This season's first auction of blowfish has been held in the western Japanese city of Shimonoseki, heralding the arrival of the traditional winter delicacy on the market.

The auction was held early Monday morning at the Haedomari fish market, which handles largest amount of the wild torafugu variety in Japan.

The first auction is held around this time every year to coincide with the start of blowfish fishing season in the Sea of Japan.

The auction began at 3:20 a.m. Buyers put their hands through a sleeve worn by the auctioneer, and communicate how much they are willing to pay by touching his fingers.

Monday's blowfish catch was around one-third of the seasonal average because of warmer seawater.

The highest price was 22,000 yen, or roughly 150 dollars, per kilogram. That is 40 dollars higher than last year.

The president of a local fish dealer, Goda Yuichiro, says he expects demand for blowfish from overseas tourists and restaurants to increase, now that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic is waning.

He says the fish market wants to satisfy demand for the product.