Genkai Sea, Sea section in northern Kyushu, Japan
Genkai Sea is a coastal section that stretches along the northern side of Kyushu, touching Fukuoka, Saga, and Nagasaki prefectures. The water connects the Sea of Japan with the East China Sea, forming a wide passage between the mainland and many offshore islands.
Traders from Korea and China used these waters for centuries to bring goods, ideas, and beliefs to Japan. The routes shaped exchanges between cultures and made the coastal ports important arrival points for travelers from the west.
Fishermen still use small boats and nets in the same way their ancestors did to catch squid and mackerel. These methods follow the rhythm of the seasons, as different species move with the changing currents.
Ferries depart regularly from several ports along the coast, linking the mainland with offshore islands. Crossings take anywhere from half an hour to several hours depending on the destination, and most routes operate year-round.
Certain fish species move between the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea through this passage, following temperature changes in the water. Fishermen time their catches to match these migrations, so each season brings different species to the coast.
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