Pacific Bluefin Fish Commands Unprecedented Bid of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the new year.
The successful offer for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the operator of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs locations throughout Japan and overseas.
"The year's tuna heralds good luck," commented the company president, a familiar bidder at the annual new year's auction.
Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is renowned for making high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.
Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent
After the auction, the winner told the press that he was "astonished at the final price," adding, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time."
This most recent purchase tops his own notable purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Despite previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his personal record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically known for sky-high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants across Japan.
The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.
From Auction to Plate
The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter processed for patrons at the winner's sushi chains shortly after the auction ended.
"I feel like I've started the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," shared one happy diner.
