Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Price of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year.
The winning bid for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the company of a popular sushi chain, which operates outlets across the country and internationally.
"The first tuna heralds good luck," commented the business owner, a regular bidder at the traditional first sale.
Known as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for placing substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the successful bidder informed the press that he was "taken aback at the final price," adding, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price escalated in no time."
This new acquisition surpasses his own historic purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Even after previously saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his personal record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously associated with sky-high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be available at its locations across Japan.
The high-energy energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
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The record-priced tuna was quickly prepared for customers at the bidder's sushi establishments soon after the auction concluded.
"I believe like I've begun the year in a good way after consuming something so lucky as the year starts," said one happy patron.
