Pacific Bluefin Fish Sells for Unprecedented Price of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A massive bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the new year.
The successful bid for the 535-pound fish was placed by the parent firm of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which manages restaurants throughout Japan and overseas.
"The year's tuna brings good luck," stated the business owner, a notable bidder at the traditional first sale.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for submitting record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions.
Bidding Shock and Historic Past
Following the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "astonished at the amount," adding, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price escalated in no time."
This most recent purchase tops his own record purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Despite once remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to break his personal record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically characterized by exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which stated the fish would be featured at its restaurants nationwide.
The frenetic energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
From Auction to Plate
The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction was finished.
"I feel like I've begun the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," said one elated patron.