Bluefin Fish Commands Historic Price of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo Auction
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the new year.
The successful offer for the 243-kilogram fish came from the operator of a well-known sushi chain, which operates outlets domestically and abroad.
"The year's tuna heralds good luck," stated the company president, a notable bidder at the annual January sale.
Dubbed the Tuna King, this businessman is famous for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Historic Past
After the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "taken aback at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated in no time."
This new acquisition exceeds his own record purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Even after once commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to shatter his own record yet again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically known for sky-high prices. Last year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which stated the fish would be featured at its locations nationwide.
The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Immediate Consumption
The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter processed for patrons at the bidder's sushi chains soon after the auction ended.
"I feel like I've commenced the year in a good way after eating something so lucky as the year gets underway," said one elated customer.