Bluefin Fish Sells for Historic Bid of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale
A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the year.
The winning offer for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the parent firm of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which operates outlets throughout Japan and abroad.
"The year's tuna signals good luck," stated the entrepreneur, a regular participant at the annual first sale.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is noted for placing high bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.
Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent
After the auction, the winner informed reporters that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," stating, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price escalated before you knew it."
This latest acquisition surpasses his own record purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after once saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to break his own record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously characterized by exceptionally high prices. Last year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be served at its locations throughout the country.
The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Swift Service
The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for diners at the winner's sushi chains soon after the auction was finished.
"I believe like I've started the year in a good way after consuming something so lucky as the year gets underway," shared one elated diner.
