Kuchikomi Aug. 14, 2009 - 07:00AM JST ( 13 )

Fuji Television’s online charity auction, which was held Aug 2-9, was flooded by bidders, willing to pay any amount to obtain personal items and other goods autographed by Fuji’s female announcers as well as athletes and TV celebrities.

At the top of the bid item list was a one and only alarm clock from Christel Takigawa of “News Japan,” priced at 350,000 yen. The clock frame is a photo image of the announcer with her autograph, and the alarm is no ordinary ringing tone but an actual recording of her voice. The content of the recording has not been disclosed – only the highest bidder gets to enjoy that privilege.

The popular announcer came up with the idea of this product, after “strategizing” with other staff to bring in as many bidders as possible.

But contrary to expectations, her biggest competitor in the auction was an announcer new to Fuji, Misato Nagano, who has been on air since March this year covering the weather report in “Mezamashi Terebi.” Her hair accessory was priced at 500,000 yen, but there were no bids. The 22-year-old was participating in the charity event for the first time. The bid price for other female announcers’ items ranged from 20,000 yen to 107,000 yen.