Local organizations have hosted their annual autumn Pacific saury festival in Tokyo’s Meguro Ward.
Meguro is not on the ocean, but the Pacific saury grilled there is well known thanks to a classic “rakugo” comic story called “Meguro no Sanma” in Japanese.
On Sunday, a fresh catch of the fall delicacy sent from Kesennuma City in the northeastern prefecture of Miyagi was grilled at the festival. Kesennuma is Meguro’s friendship city.
Organizers including local district associations and shopkeepers serve the grilled fish to ward residents chosen by lottery in advance.
The lottery system has been in place to help avoid congestion since the event resumed in 2022 after being canceled during the coronavirus pandemic.
Organizers say about 18,000 people applied for 1,500 slots this year, about 12 applications for each spot.
A 36-year-old man who came with his family said he has won the lottery for the first time and he enjoyed the good saury. He said he could not eat much of the fish last year as it was expensive.
The head of the organizing committee, Fujimori Noboru, said it is the greatest pleasure to have people enjoy good saury.
He added that he hopes Meguro will remain famous for the fish from the “rakugo” story.