Bluefin Fish Fetches Unprecedented Price of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale
A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the new year.
The top bid for the 535-pound fish came from the parent firm of a popular sushi restaurant group, which runs locations throughout Japan and overseas.
"An inaugural tuna heralds fortune," stated the company president, a regular participant at the yearly first sale.
Known as the King of Tuna, this businessman is renowned for submitting substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Auction Shock and Record-Setting Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to journalists that he was "astonished at the winning bid," noting, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price soared rapidly."
This latest purchase surpasses his previous notable purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Despite previously remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to shatter his personal record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously associated with exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which stated the fish would be served at its locations across Japan.
The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these early morning auctions has evolved into a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
From Auction to Plate
The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for patrons at the bidder's sushi restaurants soon after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've commenced the year in a positive way after consuming something so lucky as the year starts," remarked one satisfied customer.
