Bluefin Tuna Sells for Unprecedented Price of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the year.
The winning bid for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a popular sushi chain, which manages restaurants throughout Japan and abroad.
"The first tuna heralds fortune," commented the company president, a regular participant at the yearly January sale.
Known as the Tuna King, this businessman is renowned for placing record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Past
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price skyrocketed in no time."
This latest acquisition tops his previous record purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after previously commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to shatter his own record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally associated with exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which announced the fish would be served at its eateries throughout the country.
The frenetic energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Swift Service
The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly sliced up for diners at the winner's sushi establishments soon after the auction concluded.
"I believe like I've begun the year in a good way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," remarked one satisfied customer.
