Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Sum of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A substantial bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the year.
The winning bid for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the parent firm of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs locations throughout Japan and overseas.
"The first tuna signals fortune," commented the entrepreneur, a regular participant at the annual first sale.
Known as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is famous for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to journalists that he was "surprised at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price soared in no time."
This new purchase surpasses his previous record purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Despite once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to surpass his own record yet again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally characterized by exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which indicated the fish would be featured at its eateries across Japan.
The intense energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter processed for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction concluded.
"I sense like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so lucky as the year gets underway," remarked one elated customer.
