A Bryde's whale auction was held on Thursday in Sendai, the first since Japan ended its 31-year commercial whaling hiatus a month ago, with cuts of the single animal on offer sold for up to 20,000 yen ($183) per kilogram.

Bryde's whale meat is expected to become the most widely available whale product for consumers due to the catch quota for the species being the largest among all that are now commercially hunted by Japanese fleets.

The auction started at 6 a.m. at a market in the northeastern Japan city. Participants also ate whale sashimi during a tasting event held in conjunction with the sales.

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Some 70 Bryde's whales have been caught in the sea south of Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, and other waters after Japan restarted commercial whaling on July 1 following its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission.

"The reactions have been good. I'd like many people to enjoy the deliciousness" of whale meats, said Eiji Mori, president of Tokyo-based whaling operator Kyodo Senpaku Co., which caught the whale.

Auctions selling the meat of smaller-sized minke whales have already been held since Japan restarted whaling.