Defense agency holds 1st auction of discarded SDF equipment

Why not just have a big garage sale in front of Shinjuku station?

I would honestly buy a Kawasaki KLX 250 motorcycle used by JGSDF reconnaissance units if they'd sell them at auctions. This is actually a nice idea, there are lots of people who'd pay good money for surplus military equipment.

Those Mitsubishi army jeeps, which I've never seen on civvy plates, would be a hot ticket, too.

Why not just have a big garage sale in front of Shinjuku station?

Becsuse it would contribute to more covid 19 infections. The thing you are supposed to be against... @hamburger

I would buy a tank if they are planning on auctioning any. Always fancied one.

I guess everyone is looking for new ways to make money.

I wonder if there were any purchasers working as middle men, so these items could be purchased on behalf of China for military recon. It might be hard to ship some of the items overseas, but they could still taken apart and shipped in pieces or chronicled.

How about using the money to start a fund for JSDF family members who need financial assistance?

Cool, did they use the latest version of WordArt to create the presentation slide?

Selling back unwanted items to people that have already paid for them-remarkable!

"Those Mitsubishi army jeeps, which I've never seen on civvy plates, would be a hot ticket, too."

Might even have some sand from Iraq hiding in an out of the way corner somewhere underneath.............

@kurisupisu that is a very good point tax payers have already paid Premiun price once now again purchase the same goods. It comparable to paying for your futon each time you use it.

"I wonder if there were any purchasers working as middle men, so these items could be purchased on behalf of China for military recon. It might be hard to ship some of the items overseas, but they could still taken apart and shipped in pieces or chronicled."

I doubt anything even a tiny bit interesting to another military in terms of technology was auctioned off. In the US, DRMO has been disposing of surplus military equipment for many decades. There is often lots of useful stuff (computers, office and lab equipment, well worn shop equipment, tired vehicles and the like) but anything that might be interesting to an adversary is not available for sale.

Remarkable.

The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency auction managed to raise a paltry $54,900?!!

Subtract logistical costs in organizing the event/auction.  

If decommissioning has taken place, and there is no sensitive military hardware, have a boot sale and invite the public.

Of course, face masks and strict social distancing. If is deemed discarded sell it all, to whoever puts their hand in their purse or pocket.

gotta love the cartoonish auction poster behind him xD

My dream is an amphibious vehicle!

I would buy a tank if they are planning on auctioning any. Always fancied one.

I think Rick, Corey and Chumlee might be able to hook you up.

Online auction anyone? Limiting the number of bidders? They've only just discovered that there is a 2nd hand market for ex-military equipment????

Why is Japan so 3rd world when it comes to these things?

 Finance Ministry to use the funds to improve the living and working conditions of SDF personnel

¥5.8 million (55 grand US) is not gonna go very far.

¥5.8 million (55 grand US) is not gonna go very far.

They did say there could be more auctions in the future so the amount could increase. Helping SDF members is one option but they could also donate the proceeds to a variety of charities and NPOs in Japan and it could be a regular fundraising activity. Though I question if the Japanese govt has the insight and heart to consider this.

They have sold the stuff at "scrap metal prices" before, but that does not mean it all actually became scrap metal.

As much as I am glad to see items that can still be used, used, or at least admired and not destroyed, it sure would be nice if overgrown little boys could get over their fascination with war paraphernalia.

Gotta get those cartoon posters in there!

Gotta get those cartoon posters in there!

I swear that hammer came straight from Donkey Kong.

This has been going on for years here in the UK, I've bought stacks of stuff from the army surplus, 90% of it is built to a far higher standard than what you can buy in civi street. as for buying tanks, well they sold some off not so long ago, a chap near me bought one and he drove it on the road from time to time, but with it getting on in life it use to break down regular, especially in town, as you can in again the local tow company was stuffed when they got called out to it, also its specialist knowledge on how they work, needless to say it caused major problems and the police did warn him about it in the end, as for 4x4 there are stacks of them, buyer beware not all of them are in tip top condition! yes it make sense to sell off army and navy surplus, why pay to dump it? when you can get paid for it!

As for just keeping it local, what? you can dedicate a web site just for auctioning off surplus once a month, so any one in Japan can bid and buy, then they can be shipped out to the buyer any where in Japan, simple! this way the government could sell even more surplus and get better prices as it could start a bidding war between two or three customers wanting a item.

The aviator helmet and oxygen mask sold for 66 Man Yen -- the sale of the auction's most popular item was conducted personally by Defense Minister Kono himself.

"@kurisupisu that is a very good point tax payers have already paid Premiun price once now again purchase the same goods. It comparable to paying for your futon each time you use it."

Do you have a better idea for the disposal of surplus government equipment? At least with auctions like these the government is able to recoup some of the money spent buying the items and the public has a chance to make further use of the items rather than simply burying the stuff in a landfill. I don't know the particulars of the Japanese program but in the US, schools and other levels of government generally have first rights of refusal on this material and it is usually free to them. I recall our organization went to great lengths to ensure a surplus electron microscope went to a qualified organization that would put it to beneficial use. It didn't just go up on the auction block.

Ejection seats fetch big money on eBay.

Surplus Swiss and Austrian Army Steyr-Daimler-Puch Pinzgauer trucks have a following in the US (the newer diesel powered BAE built Pinzgauer isn't legal in the US yet). Likewise older gas engine Mercedes Unimogs.

@Toshihiro.

I had to look up that Kawasaki bike in JSDF mod set up. Pretty cool. I could get in to one of those myself.

https://youtu.be/eNsRLapfSZU

There is a company that will set a new one up for you like the soldiers have with all the goodies and helmet too.

"I had to look up that Kawasaki bike in JSDF mod set up. Pretty cool. I could get in to one of those myself."

The US Marines once used a diesel powered KLR-650, the M1031M1. The company that built them for the Marines took a stock KLR, replaced the original gas motor with one of their own design then added a well chosen selection of commercial off road mods for the KLR series. They fetch upwards of $7000 USD used, much more than a used civilian gas KLR-650 sells for. Unfortunately there are no engine spares anywhere as the company that made them, Hayes Diversified Technologies, has ceased production and is now purely a research and development company working with universities and anyone else who'll pay them on clean diesel technology.