Bluefin Tuna Sells for Record Sum of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the calendar year.
The top offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the parent firm of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which runs restaurants throughout Japan and internationally.
"The year's tuna signals a prosperous start," commented the entrepreneur, a regular participant at the annual new year's auction.
Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is famous for making substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic January auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Historic Precedent
Following the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "astonished at the final price," adding, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price skyrocketed in no time."
This new purchase surpasses his own notable 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 previously saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to surpass his own record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously associated with exceptionally high prices. Last year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be served at its eateries nationwide.
The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
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The record-priced tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the winner's sushi chains shortly after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've commenced the year in a positive way after consuming something so lucky as the year starts," shared one satisfied customer.
