Bluefin Tuna Sells for Record Sum of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the year.
The top bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the operator of a popular sushi chain, which operates locations throughout Japan and internationally.
"The first tuna brings good luck," remarked the business owner, a regular bidder at the annual January sale.
Dubbed the Tuna King, this entrepreneur is noted for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions.
Bidding Shock and Historic Past
After the auction, the winner admitted to the press that he was "taken aback at the final price," noting, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it."
This most recent purchase tops his previous historic purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he purchased 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 exorbitant prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which indicated the fish would be served at its eateries throughout the country.
The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Swift Service
The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly processed for customers at the winner's sushi restaurants soon after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've started the year in a positive way after eating something so lucky as the year starts," shared one happy diner.
