Japanese snow crab fetches ¥800,000 at auction

Agreed @Mark 9:21pm. ‘Shameful’ the sad state of affairs for Japan’s “working-poor” & hungry?

“ 1/4 of the population sleeps hungry. what a shame”

This is the Japanese culture of money offering and congratulation.

That price was paid only at the first auction to celebrate another successful year of snow crab.

It is true that there is a sense of performance, but it is originally a fishing port tradition to wish for a successful snow crab market for the year.

It is similar to the way the stock market celebrates the first day of the year.

Never mind the shrimps, honey, I'm bringing home the crabs!

While it is ‘advertising’& ‘showmanship’ @Mark 9:21 reminds us of us ‘reality’ for a large percentage of Japanese people’s DAILY lives:

@Mark 9:21m: “This is how the food industry ropes the Japanese public, taking pride in paying more for things while 1/4 of the population sleeps hungry.”

Japan’s population: 126,466,402 citizens. The world’s 3rd-largest economy yet 15% in poverty. That means 18,969,960 people exist below the poverty line. The main causes of food insecurity: unemployment & disability…”

A matching donation of ¥800,000 to food charities would also be great ‘advertising’. Let’s look for the big “tuna guy” when his turn comes next ?

It's a marketing gimmick. I hope the publicity for purchasing the crab increases sales at his restaurant. Still over $7000 for one crab, jeez.

How much will the last one sell for? Then will they cook it into extinction?

Snow crab or Tarabagani usually go for about 10,000 each.

This, and the million dollar tuna at the New Years auction are publicity stunts to advertise the buyer’s restaurant.

My father in law likes Crabs and buy's them at the local sea food market for a bout 3,000 JPY.

This is how the food industry ropes the Japanese public, taking pride in paying more for things while 1/4 of the population sleeps hungry. what a shame.

Crab.

Ridiculous.

It was 5 million yen and not 800,000.

Just look at the photo again. Buyer has regretful face expression.

More like smugness

More money than sense, this is just one big show off, if it makes him think that I am the king of crabs etc, somepeople might think, well if hes got all that money just for one crab, he must be ripping us off with high prices to buy that crab, so they get annoyed with him and not go to his restaurants.

Delicious! Fukui has some of the best seafood, fished daily from the large body of water to their west.

Just look at the photo again. Buyer has regretful face expression.

Come on guys, it's not for you. It's for those people who can 'head held high'.

Big PR show plus tax write off. No need to be google eyed at these prices.

A very expensive purchase given for tax rite off purposes .

That would make it seem less ridiculous.

As it should. It is worth every penny!

You do realize ¥800,000 is not the regular price, right? 

Its a novelty auction used to promote the winners restaurant.

Correct! Big plus for the winner to get promote in every TV channels. TV remains the world’s most effective advertising.

Fighto!, yes thank you, I am/was being sarcastic, the lowest form of wit

The successful bidder, a local restaurant owner, said he purchased the crab so he could welcome customers with his "head held high."

Crabs in a bucket- A metaphor for our late stage capitalist society.

Roughly $8,000 for a crab so you can put it in your restaurant aquarium for bragging rights. Wow.

@Good' Purchaser has 8 kids.

LMAFO!!!! brilliant

The article does not mention the weight of the crab, but in S. Korea, the price of big (1 kg in weight) snow crabs (Chionoecetes opilio) at the local market is about USD 100. http://illdung.com/product/%EB%B0%95%EB%8B%AC%EB%8C%80%EA%B2%8C-%EC%98%81%EB%8D%95-%EC%A0%95%ED%92%88-1k%EA%B8%89-%EB%A7%88%EB%A6%AC%EB%8B%B9-115000%EC%9B%90/71/

Live snow crabs imported from Russia are even cheaper.

The most expensive of all caviar, and indeed the world's most expensive food is 'Almas', from the Iranian Beluga fish - 1 kg (2 lb 3 oz) of this 'black gold' is regularly sold for £20,000 (then $34,500).

Guinness World Records

Just for fish eggs?

Yeah, I would buy none of that as well, but if you give it to me, of course I’m going to take it!!

But as you have posted numerous times, his money to do what he wants with it

Exactly, he can waste his money anyway he wants, I don’t care, I find it stupid, I wouldn’t not for one crab. Lol

Just a waste IMHO

Only the rich or even richer Chinese tourists will buy the crab for that price. No other sane person will outright buy it or are they saying that slapping an 8 million yen price tag will make the crab taste better? Seriously?

Right, so during the pandemic you had restricted hours and a decrease in business, more than likely putting you in the red, but instead of thinking of your employees' salary you splurge on one crab.

and of course you know the exact payroll of the restaurant and the financial condition of the restaurant, and the number of employees the restaurant has. If the business was in the red, do you think he would be spending 800,000, which is his money, on a crap?

Imagine eating this crab with a side of Matsutake mushrooms and ¥3 million yen bluefin tuna. ¥2.7 million yen Yubari melons for desert. Just imagine!

Its a novelty auction used to promote the winners restaurant.

Ridiculous traditions will die.

I hope they don’t over boil it.

Looks like a glorified Anko Bread.

Good buy there, Toshiaki.

Now pay your employees!

Ridiculous !

Hard to hold yer head high when you paid that much for a snow crab !

Think about the people starving in the world.

Yep, more silliness in Japan. I went to an apple orchard once, box of perfect apples individually wrapped in protective jackets, very expensive. A bag of apples from the same tree that dared to fall to the ground and get dented....fraction of the price. People need to understand there is poverty in places......

3-2-1 .... but, but cultchaaaaaa

I could care less about the symmetrical appearance of a crab. Do the ugly asymmetrical crabs taste any different? 

Right, so during the pandemic you had restricted hours and a decrease in business, more than likely putting you in the red, but instead of thinking of your employees' salary you splurge on one crab.

It was always fun going to Sapporo to spend 3 hours picking at tiny little crabs at a 食べ放題 (tabehodai) with a toothpick, hoping to accumulate a full gram of crabmeat.

Never had the pleasure of tasted one.

I guess at ¥800,000, the majority of Japans population are in the same boat.

You do realize ¥800,000 is not the regular price, right?

Its a novelty auction used to promote the winners restaurant.

I could care less about the symmetrical appearance of a crab. Do the ugly asymmetrical crabs taste any different? So 800,000 yen for the whole crab.... So to turn a profit does that mean one crab claw is 120,000 yen??? Crazy. No thank you.

what happened to the other 167,433 'uncertified' crabs.... and do they taste any different?

I used to know someone who actually believed the news that people paid these amounts for melons, tuna and snow crab, etc.

Never had the pleasure of tasted one.

I guess at ¥800,000, the majority of Japans population are in the same boat.

Just save the photo and dribble.

Purchaser has 8 kids.