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Tsunami auction gets $73 million bid for piano

The Associated Press Published Thursday, April 21, 2011 9:04AM EDT

In this March 6, 2011 photo, Yoshiki, a member of Japanese heavy metal band X Japan, performs during the Asia Girls Explosion fashion event in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

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TOKYO - Yahoo Japan says a bidder has pledged a staggering $73 million for a crystal piano put up for a tsunami charity auction but has yet to confirm whether it is a serious offer.

Yahoo Japan says it had to suspend the auction for the piano belonging to Yoshiki of heavy metal band X Japan after bids hit 6 billion yen ($73 million) earlier this week.

Yahoo has emailed the bidder to confirm the intention to buy the piano, but said Thursday there has been no response. Yahoo will wait several days before putting it up for auction again.

Yoshiki is among 280 artists, athletes and celebrities who joined the auction to raise money for reconstruction efforts after Japan's earthquake and tsunami left more than 27,000 people dead or missing.