Bluefin Fish Commands Historic Price of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; ÂŁ2.4m) during the market's first auction of the year.
The successful offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs locations throughout Japan and overseas.
"The first tuna signals good luck," stated the business owner, a regular participant at the annual new year's auction.
Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is noted for making high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent
Following the auction, the winner told reporters that he was "taken aback at the amount," noting, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This most recent acquisition exceeds his own notable purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 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 ($2.1m).
Even after previously commenting 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 opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally characterized by exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different food company, which stated the fish would be available at its restaurants nationwide.
The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Immediate Consumption
The record-priced tuna was quickly prepared for customers at the bidder's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction was finished.
"I feel like I've begun the year in a good way after consuming something so lucky as the year begins," remarked one happy patron.
