Episode 5 | Why Are Anglers Like This? (Laughs)

Just because you love fishing doesn't mean every kind of fishing thrills you. When Kai talks about the sea, he can be remarkably straightforward.

That day's subject was squid and octopus. It began with a simple question: which did he prefer to eat?

He Catches Octopus, but Would Rather Eat Squid

Kai: I love squid sashimi. Grilled squid, too. I like the texture and flavor—they're different from fish. I go octopus fishing quite often, but I'd rather eat squid than octopus.

Yuna: So you go octopus fishing a lot, but when it's time to eat, you prefer squid! (Laughs.)

Apparently, how often someone catches something and how much they like eating it are two different things. So what was the appeal of octopus fishing? Yuna asked an innocent question.

Yuna: When you're fishing for octopus, is it fun feeling that distinctive squishy weight as you search along the bottom? Or do you like figuring out where they're hiding and finding them?

To Be Honest, Octopus Fishing Is...

Kai: Octopus fishing actually isn't much fun. (Sob.) I do enjoy it when the line suddenly feels heavy and I land one, butthey don't fight back.(Laughs.)

Well, that was unexpected: 'It isn't fun.' And this from someone who goes octopus fishing quite often. He's happy when he catches one, but an octopus doesn't charge off with the power of a big game fish. For Kai, that struggle matters.

And Yet, When the Season Comes Around...

When horse mackerel season overlaps with octopus season, he'll switch to octopus once he gets a little tired of catching mackerel. He doesn't own a dedicated octopus rod or reel; he uses his jigging gear instead. Apparently, he has a personal rule about not spending a single yen on octopus tackle—a rule that Yuna finds impossible to understand. (Laughs.)

Yuna: You say octopus fishing isn't fun, but when the season comes around, you'll end up going again anyway, won't you?

Yuna: Anglers really are hopeless creatures, aren't they?

He says it's no fun, yet whenever the season comes, he heads back to the sea. Maybe even anglers themselves can't fully explain how they feel. (Laughs.)

Whether it's a kind of fishing he loves or one he's not so keen on, he can laugh about it. These little detours are part of what makes their conversations fun.