I just lost my final Grandparent. It's kind of shocking, considering he was 91 years old. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer a week ago... and now he's gone. This is the man who taught me how to train dogs, how baseball works, why football is great, and the peace and zen one can get from fishing. He was my living example of life. 
 
While you may make fun of fishing in video games, there is a point. My experience, which has yielded moderate returns, is that fishing is more about being one with the fish. This may sound like some bit of haberdash kind of stuff. However, it has proven true in my family. There has been an extended length of life just because of fishing. There is a very meditative art to fishing. If you go out only to catch fish then you will become frustrated and stressed. The key is to focus on your personal control of the rod. to be one with nature. This does not mean you will catch anything. But, to remove yourself from your surroundings will make you more relaxed. Granted, my family suffers from lower blood pressure, even though I am of Scot, Welsh, German, and Irish heritage (historically emotional/high-stress genetics). But like I said... there is a calming part of fishing. 
 
I believe this Zen effect of fishing is why many Japanese (or Asian people in general) love fishing. There are Buddhist pricipals behind catching and releasing that are both rewarding and   soothing to the soul. As well, Japan is a fishing nation. it is an island, which means it's culture is dependant on the resouces of the ocean. But , I have witnessed many Japanese people fish, yet release their catches. It has seemed my grandfather's way is based in priciple. Usually those catch and releases occured around temples or shrines along rivers. I am no anthropologist, nor can I assume I understand the way of Japanese society (although I lived with a family near Edo for a week). I can say that the fishing in games plays a huge part and has a bigger influence than the normal housebound American can understand. 
Needless to say, I feel a deep connection to video games that feature fishing (one of the first quests, on the last Zelda games I played,  I first tried and looked forward to fishing). This does not go unfounded, as it adds to a game's feel or atmosphere. It provides a change of pace, and as represented in most Japanese games, provides rewards (although not always spiritual). The basis of this ramble is that my granddad's long life was spent fishing, and I feel that this has some calming effect on us that is reflected in the games that come from Japan. So, instead of everyone groaning when a fishing application to a game shows up, maybe we should look at the fact it is meant to chill the gamer down (and give cheap prizes). 
 
In addition, I would like to know who else finds fishing more of a relaxation instead of a chore. I could do it for a living.... if a living could be made by the end of a fishing pole and not ripping every living thing from the ocean or lake  in one sweep of a boat.