Prices at Japan's First Fugu Auction of the Year Underwhelm as Demand Affected By Pandemic

Last year should have been a happy one for Zuboraya, an iconic pufferfish restaurant in Osaka, Japan.Unfortunately, as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the restaurant was forced to close for good in September.The pandemic has also affected Japan's first pufferfish auction of this year.More than six tons of the fish were sold on Monday, and the highest bid was ¥15,000 ($145) for a kilogram.That's a decrease of about 25% compared to last year. .The lower prices are believed to be a result of decreased demand from restaurants.The poisonous pufferfish is an invariably popular dish with travelers and tourists.And Japan does not allow travel for tourism or most other short-term purposes