Children in Japan's central prefecture of Shizuoka have learned from the elderly in the local community about the traditional way of catching eels.

An elementary school in Shimoda City held a two-day class to give its pupils an opportunity to learn about local nature and culture.

On Tuesday, seven fourth-graders gathered at the Inouzawa River that flows near their school.

They were taught by the elderly how a bamboo fishing tube called "mojiri" works to catch eels. The mojiri traps the fish once it enters into the tube.

The pupils placed 16 mojiris on the riverbed after they put bait inside.

The children returned to the river the following morning and found six eels in the tubes. Letting out a scream of delight, they grabbed the eels by hand.

Except for a small one that was released back into the river, the other eels were grilled and served as school lunch.

Principal Tsuchiya Mika said that she hopes children will deepen their attachment to local nature through the class.

She said that they will be proud of their hometown by eating eels that are blessings of nature.