On the morning of the 4th, in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the first auction of Japan's representative winter taste "Fugu" was held.
At the Minamifudomari Market in Shimonoseki City, which handles the largest amount of tiger puffer fish in Japan, about 6.6 tons of wild and farmed tiger puffer fish caught in the Sea of Japan off the coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture and Ise Bay were auctioned.
After 3:20 a.m., when the bell rings, the auction begins. Brokers and bidders hold their fingers inside a cylindrical bag to determine the price. I competed down.
According to the Shimonoseki Karato Fish Market, the weather stabilized during the year-end and New Year holidays, and the amount of puffer fish caught increased, so the maximum price was 15,000 yen per kilogram, which is 2,000 yen lower than last year.
Yuichiro Goda, president of the Shimonoseki Karato Fish Market, said, "From now on, the water temperature will drop and the catch will increase, and the soft roe will also come in. I would like you to try Shimonoseki's delicious blowfish."
The auctioned puffer fish will be shipped mainly to restaurants in Tokyo and Osaka.