Very rare snow crab sold for $46,000
Credit to Author: Associated Press| Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2019 16:15:29 +0000
TOKYO: A “five shining star” very rare snow crab was auctioned off in Tottori, Japan for a whopping 5 million yen ($46,000) last November 7.
It’s the highest-ever price paid for a snow crab, according to the Tottori prefecture’s fishery promotion division, which was in charge of the auction. It was the first time that such crab was sold after a very similar one was auctioned in upscale Tsukigi market eight years ago.
The coveted crustacean was a male, weighing 1.2 kilograms (2.7 pounds) and measuring 14.6 centimeters (5.74 inches) wide.
The bid smashes the previous Guinness world record holding snow crab sale of 2 million yen ($18,000), which was set last year — also in Tottori.
This week’s winning bidder was Tetsuji Hamashita, president of fishery wholesaler Hanashita Shoten.
The 5 million yen snow crab will end up on a few lucky diners’ plates at an upscale restaurant in Tokyo’s posh Ginza neighborhood.
“I know it’s extreme. But it’s the custom,” Hamashita said. “But I am sure the taste of the crab matches the price.”
This year’s snow crab hunting season began on Wednesday, November 6, with the first auction — dubbed the “festive quotation market’’— aking place the following day.
While it’s typical for prices to start high on opening day — auction goers believe it’s auspicious to buy the first and best catch of the season — Hamashita said he expected the winning bid to be closer to 3 million yen.
According to the organizers, auction attendees were surprised by the price as well, with many shouting “banzai” (an auspicious cheer meaning “long life”) and applauding.
AP