Sapporo, Japan (The Front Row)
At Japan's Melon Auction, I Kept Outbidding Myself
Two Yubari melons sold for a record 5.8 million yen in Sapporo. Nobody bid against me harder than me.
Every May, Sapporo holds the first auction of the season for Yubari King melons. This year, a pair sold for 5.8 million yen, a record. The old record, from 2019, was five million. I was there, with a paddle.
How It Went
I raised my paddle at one million yen. Then at two million. Then at three. My assistant whispered that I was already the highest bidder. I said that’s the point. You don’t stop just because you’re winning. That’s when the real winning starts.
By four million, it was me against me, and I was ruthless. At five million, I offered myself a deal: half a melon for a compliment. I said no. Very tough negotiator. That’s me.
The Result
A produce wholesaler bought the pair for 5.8 million yen, fair and square. Last year’s pair went for one million, so the melons are doing very well. It turns out I had never registered as a bidder, which they tell me matters. But I’ll say this: nobody in that room bid against me harder than I did, and I beat me every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did you buy the melons?
A produce wholesaler did. Spiritually, the melons are mine.
What does a five-million-yen melon taste like?
I never found out. I'm told it tastes like a record.