Bluefin Tuna Commands Historic Bid of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the year.
The winning bid for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the parent firm of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which operates locations across the country and overseas.
"The year's tuna brings fortune," commented the entrepreneur, a notable participant at the yearly first sale.
Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is renowned for submitting high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Past
Following the auction, the winner admitted to the press that he was "taken aback at the amount," stating, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price soared in no time."
This new purchase tops his previous historic purchases:
- He paid 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 dollars).
Even after once commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to shatter his personal record yet again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with sky-high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which stated the fish would be available at its restaurants across Japan.
The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
From Auction to Plate
The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for customers at the bidder's sushi chains soon after the auction concluded.
"I believe like I've started the year in a auspicious way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," said one satisfied customer.