MIYAZAKI (Kyodo) A pair of mangoes from Miyazaki Prefecture fetched a whopping ¥200,000 Thursday at this season's first auction at the Ota wholesale market in Tokyo, far surpassing the previous record high of ¥38,000 marked last year in Kyoto.
"It's a result of an active promotion campaign spearheaded by Gov. Hideo Higashikokubaru," said an official of a local federation of economic and agricultural cooperatives.
The TV comedian-turned-governor is known for eagerly promoting local specialties from his prefecture.
Mangoes of this variety, called Taiyo no Tamago (Egg of the Sun), sold well in the morning at a local wholesale market as well.
Including Tokyo and Miyazaki, Taiyo no Tamago, which weigh 350 grams or more, were auctioned at nine locations.
The peak of shipping for this variety of mango usually falls between May and June.
