Pacific Bluefin Fish Commands Unprecedented Price of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the new year.
The winning bid for the 535-pound fish came from the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets domestically and abroad.
"The year's tuna signals fortune," commented the entrepreneur, a familiar bidder at the traditional January sale.
Known as the Tuna King, this businessman is noted for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.
Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the successful bidder told journalists that he was "astonished at the winning bid," noting, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price escalated rapidly."
This latest purchase exceeds his previous historic purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to surpass his own record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally associated with exorbitant prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another food company, which indicated the fish would be served at its locations throughout the country.
The high-energy energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has evolved into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
From Auction to Plate
The record-priced tuna was promptly prepared for diners at the winner's sushi establishments immediately after the auction concluded.
"I believe like I've started the year in a good way after consuming something so auspicious as the year starts," shared one elated customer.
