By Somang Park
There’s a certain kind of moment every angler lives for — the strike, the pull, the sudden surge of power on the line. Whether you’re battling offshore tuna or stalking reef fish with a speargun, that moment burns into memory long after the fish is filleted, grilled, and shared.
But what if that moment could live on, not just in your mind or camera roll but as a handcrafted piece of fine art, created from your exact fish, preserving every scale, curve, and contour of the real catch itself?
That’s what Gyotaku by Som is all about.
Based on the centuries-old Japanese art form of gyotaku, Som creates stunning, hand-printed impressions using real fish — transforming fresh catches into museum-quality works that blend craftsmanship, culture, and emotion.
WHAT IS GYOTAKU?
Gyotaku (魚拓), literally translating to “fish impression,” originated in 19th-century Japan, when fishermen and samurai used the method to document their best catches. The process involved applying ink to a freshly caught fish and pressing delicate rice paper over it — capturing its exact size, texture, and intricate details: the glint of the scales, the curve of the fins, even the subtle line of the jaw.
Over time, this documentation evolved into a fine art — one that honors the connection between human and sea. Today, gyotaku is practiced worldwide, but Som brings something rare: a personal connection forged through years
