Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fetches Record Price of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year.
The top bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which manages locations across the country and abroad.
"The year's tuna signals a prosperous start," commented the company president, a familiar figure at the yearly new year's auction.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this businessman is noted for submitting high bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.
Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to journalists that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," stating, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price skyrocketed in no time."
This new acquisition exceeds his previous notable purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after previously saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to shatter his personal record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally known for exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants across Japan.
The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
From Auction to Plate
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly prepared for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments shortly after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've started the year in a good way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," said one happy customer.
