Wishes and fishes

‘Prosperity of the Sea’ explores fishing culture and beliefs from Oregon to Japan

Story & photos by Gretchen Ammerman

Oregon Coast TODAY

Most of the time, when we avoid walking under a ladder or crossing paths with a black cat, or cross our fingers when we are hoping for a positive outcome, we don’t really think it will make a difference. But why risk it?

The new exhibit at Newport’s Pacific Maritime Heritage Center, “Prosperity of the Sea: Maritime Wishes, Belief, and Lore,” explores the less technical ways people use to ensure prosperity and safety for those who make their livelihood on the sea.

At the opening reception, running from 4 to 6 pm on Thursday, Jan. 25, light refreshments will be provided and entry to the museum is free.

“This exhibit has two different sections,” said Curator Sachiko Otsuki, who put the exhibit together with fellow curatorial team members Jeff Syrop and Megan Miller-Morgan. “The first focuses on wishes and the representation of wishes. The other is the lore or stories collected from the local maritime industry people.”

For fishers the world over, hopes for a successful catch and safety are basic global desires that transcend location, time and culture.

“I interviewed more than 30 people that work in that industry in this area and got about 35 stories,” Otsuki said. “Not just from the fishermen themselves, but also boat repairers and people that support the industry in other ways.”

Otsuki asked people to share their practices, traditions and beliefs.

“One of the most common things I heard was ‘don’t bring bananas onboard a boat,’” she said. “Another one I heard more than once is ‘don’t whistle in the warehouse.’”

Preferring terms like lore, practice or story over the word “superstition,” Otsuki said that even some of the more mystical-sounding practices are rooted by some kind of logic.

“Like the banana thing, I found out there are actually a few good reasons for it,” she said. “But you have to show up to find out what they are.”

Another thing that fascinated Otsuki was how many stories have been passed down for generations.

“When something first begins to be shared in a community, it is lore,” she said. “Then, once it is passed down through the generations, it becomes folklore. We can learn so much about our communities through exploring local folklore. We can trace back similar stories in different cultures, too — even all the way back to the ancient Greeks.”

Along with the collected stories, the exhibit displays historical photographic images and artifacts from the Lincoln County Historical Society’s collections.

The exhibit also introduces Japanese customs, including examples from the fishing industry in Mombetsu, Japan, Newport’s sister city. Items from Mombetsu include the huge Tairyōbata flags used to wish good luck to the fishing industry and for launching ceremonies and special occasions.

“The main symbolism of the images in the typical Tairyōbata are for a good catch and a safe journey,” Otsuki said.

Also, included in this exhibit are Ema, which are offering paintings used to make wishes.

“You will see these in almost every shrine and temple in Japan,” Otsuki said. “People write their name and their wish on them. You can guess some of the wishes by looking at the pictures.”

“Prosperity of the Sea” runs through July 16 in the museum’s Mezzanine Gallery.

The Pacific Maritime Heritage Center is located at 333 SE Bay Blvd. in Newport and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Admission is free for Lincoln County Historical Society members, active-duty military and children aged 12 and younger. For more information, go to oregoncoasthistory.org or call 541-265-7509.

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