Fishermen have begun to land winter delicacies, as this year's snow crab fishing ban was lifted in the Sea of Japan on Friday.
About 1,570 crabs were landed at Shinminato Port in Imizu, Toyama Prefecture, on the day in this year's first catch. About 600 were male and about 970 female.
The female snow crabs are especially prized, called kobakogani by local residents.
According to the local fishermen's cooperative, four boats went out Friday. They fished about 2 to 5 kilometers off the coast of Toyama Bay and at a depth of about 300 meters.
The cooperative said that good-quality crabs were auctioned off at relatively high prices this year thanks to the Go To Travel campaign, which has generated strong demand from luxury eateries such as high-end Japanese-style inns.
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