Anglers have competed in a smelt fishing event on frozen Lake Abashiri in Hokkaido.
Forty teams from within and outside the northern prefecture — each consisting of three people — took part in the competition, which is part of the winter scenery of the region.
The moment the organizer announced the start of the event on Sunday, anglers dropped their lines through holes that had been drilled in the 42-centimeter-thick ice.
The event was held in the bitter cold, with the area recording an overnight low of minus 13.3 degrees Celsius on the day. The smelt they caught were mostly 10 centimeters long.
A team from the town of Tsubetsu in Hokkaido won the two-day competition by catching a total weight of 1.3 kilograms.
A member of the team says he is really happy. He said he wants to use the prize money to treat his family to some good food, as well as to buy fishing gear.
The head of a local tourism association, which organized the event, said he hopes this amazing event will be held for years to come.
AloJapan.com