yep, and this not only applies for high priced
items but also for any kind of item. I just placed
an example (a real one) with big numbers to make
things easier to understand, but an auction that
ends at 3000 Yens that could have ended at 5000
Yens would be valid too as an example. In fact,
the items that proportionally get more benefit of
this rule are the cheaper items.

Another example, besides cels, the other things
that i ussually get more on YJ are some music CDs.
With music CDs is easier to determine a "real"
price than with cels and i have seen CDs go 10
times higher on price thanks to that
auto-extension rule. With the numbers above, i
have seen CD auctions that on the last minute were
at 3000 yens to end at 30000 yens after the
auto-extension (that would be really unbelievable
on high priced items).

The only thing required for this to happen is at
least 2 people willing to get into a bid war. If
the auction is hosted on ebay you cannot call it a
bid war because everything happens in the last 30
seconds so people doesn't have a chance most times
to place a 2nd bid (also people isn't aware of how
many rivals they have until those last seconds
when they cannot react on time). In YJ people
ussually also waits for the last minutes hoping
that the auction doesn't have the auto-extension
rule or that the current high bidder is not
babysitting the auction, but if 2 or more people
want that item the bid war is guaranteed, and the
one/s who lose at least they would be able to say
that they tried their best to get the item.

Too bad this rule (as well as any other auction
rules on any auction site) ussually benefits the
one who can spend more money instead of the one
who would love more the item but an auction is an
auction after all.

It's much more fair for collectors the updates on
dealers sites. The items have a price tag and the
first one who orders it gets it. And even more
fair are those sites who use a lottery system
between all the people who want the item, this way
you don't have to play the game of "who sends the
order faster".