The body of a 73-year-old man who went missing while attempting to remove an ayu fish trap from the Hida River in Shirakawa Town, Gifu Prefecture, has been found.

According to authorities, a report was received at around 8:30 PM on the 19th from the man’s relative stating that he had “gone to remove an ayu fish trap and hadn’t returned.”

The missing man was a 73-year-old unemployed resident of Shirakawa Town. During search operations by police and fire departments on the 20th, his body was discovered at approximately 9:00 AM on the riverbed about 130 meters downstream from where the fish trap was installed.

The river was reportedly slightly higher than normal with a fast current at the time. Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

Hida River

The Hida River is a major river flowing through Gifu Prefecture in central Japan, historically vital for transportation and irrigation in the region. It is best known for the traditional method of cormorant fishing (ukai) that has been practiced on its waters for over 1,300 years.

Shirakawa Town

Shirakawa is a historic village in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, famous for its traditional gasshō-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are over 250 years old. These unique structures, with their steep thatched roofs designed to withstand heavy snowfall, collectively form the Shirakawa-gō UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village offers a preserved glimpse into Japan’s traditional architectural style and mountainous farming life.

Gifu Prefecture

Gifu Prefecture is a landlocked region in central Japan known for its mountainous landscapes, historic towns, and traditional crafts. Its history is deeply tied to the Sengoku period, when the great warlord Oda Nobunaga used Gifu Castle as his base to launch his campaign to unify Japan in the 16th century. The prefecture is also famous for the UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-gō, a village of unique thatched-roof farmhouses.