Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Sum of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the calendar year.
The winning offer for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the parent firm of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which manages locations across the country and overseas.
"The first tuna signals a prosperous start," remarked the business owner, a familiar figure at the yearly new year's auction.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is famous for making high bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.
Auction Shock and Record-Setting Past
Following the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "surprised at the amount," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This new acquisition exceeds his own record purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Even after once commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his personal record once again.
A Tradition of High Prices
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously characterized by exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a separate sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be featured at its eateries across Japan.
The high-energy activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different.
From Auction to Plate
The record-priced tuna was quickly processed for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction was finished.
"I feel like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so auspicious as the year begins," shared one happy diner.
