"2022 Gonggi Sold for 210,000 Won" Japanese Version of Bong-i Kim Seondal

Japanese Secondhand Market
"Contains Last Year's Smell"

A listing selling plastic bags containing "air from 2022" was posted on a Japanese secondhand trading site.

According to local media SoraNews24 on the 6th, several listings selling plastic bags have recently been posted on the Japanese secondhand trading site Mercari.

The items for sale are plastic bags tied at the opening containing air, with phrases such as "2022" and "Air of 2022" written on them.

The sellers posted these listings claiming that "air from last year" is contained inside as the year changed. Most listings promote the bags with photos showing the date and phrases like "captured the scent of last year" and "vivid air of 2022."

Used Air Sales Post on Japanese Secondhand Trading Platform Mercari. Photo by Mercari Page

The price for the plastic bags containing air was mostly set at 2022 yen (about 20,000 KRW), matching the previous year. One seller who posted under the title "Air from Aichi Prefecture" priced the bag at 22,000 yen (about 210,000 KRW).

Netizens reacted with disbelief, leaving comments such as "How do we know it was really collected on that date?", "Can you send it in a zipper bag instead?", and "Is there any stock of air from 2015 left?"

The media reported that this kind of "air secondhand trading" is not the first occurrence. It explained, "In 2019, just before the era name changed from 'Heisei' to 'Reiwa' with Emperor Naruhito's ascension, canned air labeled 'Heisei air' was sold."

At that time, the air cans were reportedly priced around 1,080 yen (about 10,390 KRW) each. It added, "Inspired by the Heisei air cans, some people also sold similar products such as air caps produced before Emperor Naruhito's ascension."