Fishing for Sea Bream at the Station, Weekly Short Short Note Back-Topic, 432 Characters

Basic Knowledge
An "ekirei" (station bell) was a bell issued by the Imperial Court to government officials traveling on official business during the ancient Ritsuryo period. By ringing this bell, they were granted permission to use post horses (a means of transportation) and to requisition people and horses at post stations. The old character for "station" was inscribed on the station bell.

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The age of Ritsuryo.

I, a government official ordered to travel to the provinces, hung the station bell issued by the central government from my waist and set off on my journey with pride.
With this, I could borrow as many horses as I wanted at post stations across the country. I shouldn't have had to worry about food or lodging—or so I thought.

However, I got hungry on the road. My rice and miso were gone, and I had to catch some fish.
I sat down by the seaside and, looking at the station bell, had a sudden inspiration.

"Since this is heavy, I can cast it far offshore, and if I stuff bait inside the bell, I might be able to attract fish, right?"

I tied the station bell to the end of a rod and attached a hook and line. I stuffed bait into the station bell and cast it out toward the open sea.

It flew far out into the distant ocean with a whir, and with a splash, it sank into the sea. Then, a light darted from deep beneath the surface, and a magnificent sea bream leaped out!

Ever since then, every time I went on official business, I would swing the bell in the sea, catch sea bream, and climb the career ladder.
But the rumor spread quickly, and officials began bringing rods and station bells every time they went on a business trip.
The seas everywhere were full of officials.

Eventually, an edict was issued by the Imperial Court.
"Do not use station bells for fishing."

Thus, the station bell fishing boom came to an end, but the technique of cage fishing for sea bream spread among fishing enthusiasts.

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