Susumu Toyoda

"An Imperial Outing"

One of the perks enjoyed by members of the General's personal staff was to accompany the General and his spouse to social functions given by the Imperial Household. One special event was to be invited to a duck netting party held at the Imperial Bird Preserve. Usually Prince Takamatsu, the Emperor's brother, served as the host for these outings. As I understand it the duck netting parties originated many years ago to entertain the elite without the use of firearms.

If my memory serves me correctly the Imperial Bird Preserve is located in the eastern part of Tokyo and is a huge expanse of water with ample vegetation growing around its shores. Migrating birds make their stops there and the wild ducks become the targets for the huge nets used by the guests. A deep and narrow ditch leads from the lake to a wooden shed, where the gamekeeper waits to signal the tame ducks to come and feed. The guests wait on both sides of the ditch that are mounded so that ducks cannot see them. The gamekeeper by rapping on a board signals feeding time to the tame ducks. The tame ducks, followed by the wild ones, come swimming to the end of the ditch where grain has been scattered. The gamekeeper, seeing that there is an ample number of wild ducks feeding, gives the signal for the guests to climb on the mound with their nets raised. Then, only the wild ducks sensing danger fly straight up into the waiting nets.

While all the guests congratulate themselves for the good catch and enjoy their drinks the Imperial Household staff is busily preparing lunch. We are invited to sit at tables set with individual braziers equipped with metal grills, on which we grill the marinated strips of duck. Along with the bowls of rice, salad, vegetables, tea and dessert the grilled duck meal was enjoyed by all. There was no gaminess to the meat, even though it was reported that ducks in Japan feed on fish and their meat usually tastes like fish.

We were invited to take home the braziers as souvenirs of our outing. I kept mine for a number of years but lost track of it during our periodic moves.