The Japanese Defense Ministry’s first-ever auction to sell used equipment held on Sunday collected 5,818,000 yen in total, roughly over 30 times the starting prices of items put up for sale. 

The highest price was for a set of a helmet and an oxygen mask for an Air Self-Defense Force pilot, which sold for 660,000 yen.

A set of emblems, which carried a starting price of 3,000 yen, sold for 200,000 yen.

Each item put up for sale comes with an authenticity certificate signed by Defense Minister Taro Kono.   

The auction raised a higher-than-expected amount of money, Kono told reporters. “This gave me an opportunity to feel the public’s affection anew for the SDF,” he said.   

The event brought together 176 participants. A total of 450 people chosen by lottery were scheduled to take part in the auction, but those outside Tokyo were asked to stay away due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The ministry is considering whether to hold additional auctions, including online ones.

JIJI Press