Bluefin Tuna Commands Historic Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the year.
The successful offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the operator of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which runs restaurants across the country and internationally.
"An inaugural tuna brings fortune," stated the business owner, a regular participant at the traditional new year's auction.
Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is famous for submitting record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic January auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Historic Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder informed the press that he was "surprised at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price soared before you knew it."
This most recent acquisition exceeds his previous record purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after previously saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to break his own record yet again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously associated with exorbitant prices. Last year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its eateries throughout the country.
The frenetic energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Immediate Consumption
The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the winner's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction concluded.
"I sense like I've started the year in a positive way after consuming something so lucky as the year gets underway," said one satisfied diner.
