Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Price of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the new year.
The winning bid for the 243kg fish was placed by the parent firm of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which operates restaurants domestically and abroad.
"The first tuna signals a prosperous start," remarked the entrepreneur, a regular participant at the yearly new year's auction.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this businessman is noted for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic January auctions.
Auction Surprise and Historic Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to journalists that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," adding, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price escalated in no time."
This new purchase surpasses his previous record purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Despite once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to surpass his own record once again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously characterized by exceptionally high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its locations throughout the country.
The high-energy energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Swift Service
The record-priced tuna was promptly processed for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction concluded.
"I sense like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after tasting something so lucky as the year starts," remarked one elated diner.
