Kasumi Crab Sells for 300,000 Yen at Season's First Auction

Sep 05, 2026 | News On Japan

HYOGO - The autumn red snow crab season has opened on the Sea of Japan coast, with the first auction at Kasumi Fishing Port in Kami, Hyogo Prefecture, recording a top price of 300,000 yen for a single crab on September 4.

Fishing for red snow crab began on September 1, and eight small fishing vessels returned to Kasumi Fishing Port with their catches on September 3, unloading crabs one after another.

Kasumi is the only port in the Kinki region where red snow crab is landed, and the local catch is marketed under the premium Kasumi Crab brand.

The season's first auction began at 6 a.m. on September 4, with wholesalers competing for the newly landed crabs.

Around 19 tons were landed for the opening auction, about 10% more than last year, while the highest-priced crab sold for 300,000 yen.

Yoshitaka Fukumoto, chairman of the Hyogo Prefecture Crab Pot Association, said the opening catch was encouraging. "The amount landed on the first day was about 10% higher than last year. They are delicious crabs, so I hope everyone will enjoy eating them," he said.

The red snow crab fishing season will continue through the end of May 2027.

Source: YOMIURI

Typhoon No. 24 Loops South of Japan

Typhoon No. 24 is forecast to follow an unusual looping path near Okinawa and south of Japan before weakening into a tropical depression, while the warm, moist air it carries is intensifying the autumn rain front and bringing heavy rain to southern Kyushu, with the effects expected to spread across a wide area of Japan and persist into the beginning of next week. As of 9 p.m. on September 4, the typhoon was over waters west of Amami City and moving south at 20 kilometers per hour.

Japanese Researcher Wins Ig Nobel Prize

A late former professor at Asahikawa Medical University has won the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine for scientifically examining the proper way to blow the nose, extending Japan's streak of Ig Nobel winners to 20 consecutive years.

Shinkansen Takes on Overnight Travel

Night trains are making a comeback across Japan, with railway operators introducing new overnight services and even experimenting with overnight Shinkansen trains as demand grows for alternatives that combine transportation, accommodation and the experience of traveling through the night.

Bear Attacks Continue as Peak Season Looms

Bear sightings and attacks have been reported across Japan throughout the summer, with animals damaging sheds, attacking livestock and injuring people, while experts warn that autumn is the most dangerous season as bears expand their range in search of food.

Japan to Conduct First Nationwide Survey of Animal Cafes

Japan's Environment Ministry will conduct its first survey of animal cafes, where customers can interact with animals including exotic species, as concerns grow over infection risks, injuries and the welfare burden placed on animals.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Food NEWS

Kasumi Crab Sells for 300,000 Yen at Season's First Auction

The autumn red snow crab season has opened on the Sea of Japan coast, with the first auction at Kasumi Fishing Port in Kami, Hyogo Prefecture, recording a top price of 300,000 yen for a single crab on September 4.

Japan to Conduct First Nationwide Survey of Animal Cafes

3 Tokyo Michelin-Listed Meals (Under $10!)

Japan byFood and Shizuka are back with Worth The Trip the series where we will discover food spots in Japan that are actually worth traveling for! This time we are going to award-winning eats around Tokyo under one rule – we can only eat for $10 or around ¥1,600 yen.

2026 Rice Harvest Forecast Slightly Higher in Five Prefectures

Japan's 2026 rice harvest is expected to show mixed results across the country, with yields slightly above the previous year's level in five prefectures, roughly unchanged in 20 and slightly lower in 21, according to an Agriculture Ministry forecast released on August 31.

Edamame Harvest Begins in Hokkaido

The edamame harvest has begun in Nakasatsunai, Hokkaido, one of Japan's leading production areas, with favorable weather supporting strong growth and farmers expecting about 3,000 tons of the local specialty to be harvested by mid-September.

Edo-Tokyo Vegetables Face Extinction

Traditional vegetables cultivated in Tokyo for generations are facing a growing threat from extreme heat and a shortage of farmers willing to carry on their cultivation, with some growers reporting that seeds are failing to germinate or young plants are dying in increasingly severe summer temperatures.

Asahi Ponzu Production Halted as Sudachi Shortage Deepens

Production of Asahi Ponzu, a popular seasoning that has been a fixture on Kansai dining tables for decades, has been suspended for the first time in the product's roughly 60-year history as a severe shortage of sudachi citrus exposes a deepening crisis in Tokushima Prefecture, which accounts for 98% of Japan's shipments.

Shinjuku's Best-Value Steak Grill

Gutsu Grill Shinjuku has been serving hearty, affordable steak in Nishi-Shinjuku since 1999, attracting crowds with generous portions and a menu built around value for money. The 44-seat restaurant regularly fills up at lunchtime, with customers praising its tender meat, large servings and reasonable prices.

< 2 3 4 5 >