Story perspectives

Hiroshima's Kure Oyster Festival Faces Crisis Amid 80% Die-Off

3/31/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Kure oyster festival in Hiroshima faces a crisis as local oyster populations decline sharply, with up to 80% mortality.
Experts attribute the die-off to rising sea temperatures and last year's extreme heat.
Fisherman Taketoshi Niina says his oysters are suffering unusually high losses, with mortality exceeding the typical 30–50%.
The region produces two-thirds of Japan's farmed oysters, and the government has introduced support measures amid concerns about future harvests.

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Story summary

The Kure oyster festival in Hiroshima faces a crisis as local oyster populations decline sharply, with up to 80% mortality.
Experts attribute the die-off to rising sea temperatures and last year's extreme heat.
Fisherman Taketoshi Niina says his oysters are suffering unusually high losses, with mortality exceeding the typical 30–50%.
The region produces two-thirds of Japan's farmed oysters, and the government has introduced support measures amid concerns about future harvests.