Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale
A massive bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the new year.
The winning offer for the 535-pound fish was placed by the company of a popular sushi restaurant group, which manages outlets across the country and internationally.
"An inaugural tuna brings fortune," remarked the company president, a regular bidder at the annual January sale.
Referred to as the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for submitting record bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.
Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the successful bidder told the press that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," adding, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated rapidly."
This latest acquisition exceeds his own record purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Even after previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to break his own record once again.
A Tradition of High Prices
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically characterized by exorbitant prices. The previous year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be served at its eateries across Japan.
The intense energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Swift Service
The record-priced tuna was promptly sliced up for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction ended.
"I feel like I've begun the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," shared one satisfied patron.
