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Japan snow crab recognized by Guinness as getting most expensive bid

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"I hope everyone will remember the 2 million yen crab and come visit our prefecture,"

Was that a scary thing that really scares everyone and not coming to your prefecture?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No, this is a 2 million yen advertising campaign, that gets his restaurant into the national news and the record books - pretty cheap at that price. The actual crab is secondary.

Did you actually READ the article?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Go to Tottori and eat crab. Support the rural economy. Nihonkai doesn’t have radiation, is beautiful, cheap, nice people...wonderful places.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm quite curious about the theory that someone bidding a huge amount in a staged and possibly fake auction will actually increase tourism or increase business. Locals always winning suggests to me that these auctions are fake and the money they have bid is returned.

So, are there people with cash to spend out there who wake up it the morning with nothing to do and then think "Let's go to that place with the fifteen grand melon!" Or "the twenty grand crab!" Or the "eight hundred quid haddock!" Do such people actually exist? Does the more time-poor version of this person react to one of these auctions by going online to order 20,000 yen of magic mikan?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

My guess is the 2 million yen will be distributed amongst the entire fishing community (or perhaps used for a fisherman's welfare project), and the crab will attract visitors. I wish both Hamashita-san and the crab a long and happy life.

Where in the world does anyone get this idea? The city isn't holding the auction, it's the auctioneers who are selling off the catch of the day!

The money will go to the person(s) or boat that the crab was caught on nothing even as close to as altruistic idea you have here.

Please dont think this is a charity auction, it's not!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Ridiculous? Not according to Tetsuji Hamashita.

Something is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Hamashita thinks this crab is worth 2 million yen

No, this is a 2 million yen advertising campaign, that gets his restaurant into the national news and the record books - pretty cheap at that price. The actual crab is secondary.

This is why Guinness should not touch it - it is a record for commercial purposes, and they should not go near it.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It is said the first foods of the season will attract luck and bring longevity.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It is said that the first foods of the season will attract luck and bring longevity.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Amazing! I won't be eating it either but it shows that that the Japanese economy is in the hands of people who don't know the worth of anything meaningful! Ganabare Japan, I truly hope that there's more to the economy than people willing to pay thousands of dollars for a crab.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I went to Tottori City last few years and they have a free crab aquarium there with various types of crabs. It is a great place for kids and very educational. I bet this crab goes there.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The world record price shows that the Japanese economy is ticking along nicely, people have the cash to spend on foods etc. oh man , the gullable is what this whole advertisement is targeted at.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Reckless - I am one of those few cursed with a shellfish allergy so this crab has nothing to fear from me.

I'm another one. However, even if I wasn't allergic, I still wouldn't pay 20 grand for a crab. This crab was worth a lot more if it was left in the ocean to make more crabs.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Something is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Hamashita thinks this crab is worth 2 million yen. 'the crab isnt the expensive part of the bid, its the pubicity that this bid generates to promote  Tottori is where the real cost is. Have to ask if the bidders knew that no publicity would be generated by their bid would they still be willing to pay 2million yen for this crab.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What's missing in the article is the fact that it was "Hatsuzeri (初競り)", a ceremonial auction on the first day of the season (Nov to March for this type of crabs). I always wonder why English articles of this type (like for Tuna and Melon) keep readers uninformed about the ceremonial significance.

For Japanese readers, it may not be necessary to explain but, for non-Japanese readers, the articles should include an explanation about ceremonial nature. The auction is a special, once-a-year, a new year celebration for the industry and that the money offered is considered "Goshugi (御祝儀)" or a good-luck donation to the industry. Not explaining this to non-Japanese readers is to mislead them. Perhaps that is intended, I am afraid, in order to give a shocking effect on readers who will think it "ridicurous".

There is also an aspect of advertisement as someone already mentioned. Perhaps I can compare it with advertisement in Super Bowl. Companies are willing to pay $4 million for 30 seconds in the biggest and ceremonial event of a football season. The Hatsuzeri, or the First Auction, likewise, is the biggest event for any industry in Japan. It's a festival for an industry at the beginning of their season. it's the only day outsiders pay attention to their auctions. Winning it on this particular day is a sure way to make your company's name known.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Hello again Disillusioned, you are right, price is a measure of shortage.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The price tag was not for a crab but rather an advertising strategy to attract attention to the product and prefecture.

$17,000 will not buy much promotion space & time in normal media outlets.

But it certainly has bought inexspensive worldwide notice and recognition as the story goes viral.

No different to the same practice applied to Yubari Melons or Hon Maguro (tuna) etc.

It has no bearing on the state of the Japanese economy, just an easy, cheap, clever way to sell.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@Laguna

Great post!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I miss Dungeness crab.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The world record price shows that the Japanese economy is ticking along nicely, people have the cash to spend on foods etc.

I wouldn't make a general picture based on what a single person paid for a crab.

Sure, there are people can afford a 2 million yen crab. But, on the other hand, there are people who wander in the supermarket waiting for the discount time on foods.

If I drew conclusions about the economy from the ammount of people on those different situations, I'd say economy is not ticking along nicely.

I guess it depends from which side you're looking at the glass.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Tetsuji Hamashita is a very generous man. He obviously loves his town and, as a fishmonger, wanted to thank the fishermen that make his business possible. My guess is the 2 million yen will be distributed amongst the entire fishing community (or perhaps used for a fisherman's welfare project), and the crab will attract visitors. I wish both Hamashita-san and the crab a long and happy life.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Amazing! Lucky crab, it wont be eaten, but I wish I could, crab is delicious! The world record price shows that the Japanese economy is ticking along nicely, people have the cash to spend on foods etc.

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

Wasteful showboating means that I won’t put Tottori down on my schedule as a place to

visit anytime soon....

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Ridiculous? Not according to Tetsuji Hamashita.

Something is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Hamashita thinks this crab is worth 2 million yen.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

These crabs are also listed as vulnerable due to massive overfishing.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

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