Buyers are forking out more for pearls at auctions in the central Japanese prefecture of Mie, as the weaker yen drives up prices.

The Ise-Shima area is renowned for the quality of its locally-harvested pearls. These gems and others have been going under the hammer at local auctions since last week.

The top-rated specimens are fetching prices roughly 80 percent higher than last year.

The surge is partly a result of a shortage in the local supply. Four years ago, 70 percent of young Akoya pearl oysters died, mainly due to a virus that circulated in a nearby bay.
The situation has been improving, but not enough to satisfy local and overseas demand. Producers expect the trend to continue.