Bluefin Fish Sells for Historic Price of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A substantial 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 venue's opening auction of the new year.
The winning bid for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which operates restaurants throughout Japan and internationally.
"The first tuna heralds good luck," stated the business owner, a familiar bidder at the annual first sale.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is noted for submitting high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Auction Surprise and Historic Precedent
Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to journalists that he was "surprised at the winning bid," noting, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed in no time."
This most recent acquisition surpasses his own notable purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite once saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to break his personal record another time.
A Tradition of High Prices
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously characterized by exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be featured at its restaurants throughout the country.
The frenetic energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Immediate Consumption
The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for diners at the winner's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction was finished.
"I sense like I've started the year in a auspicious way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," remarked one happy customer.
