China's passion for Japan arts behind record-smashing tea bowl auction

What happened: Mainichi Auction in Tokyo set a new in-house record with the sale of a single tea bowl for 800 million yen in late February. Key numbers: 800 million yen ($5 million at current rates); sale took place in late February. Why it matters: The article attributes interest in tea ceremony and traditional crafts to a manga series, drawing bidders to the auction.

Mainichi Auction in Tokyo set a new in-house record with the sale of a single tea bowl for 800 million yen in late February.

The article attributes interest in tea ceremony and traditional crafts to a manga series, drawing bidders to the auction.