Bluefin Fish Fetches Historic Price of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the calendar year.
The winning offer for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi chain, which runs outlets domestically and abroad.
"An inaugural tuna signals fortune," remarked the company president, a notable participant at the traditional new year's auction.
Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is noted for placing record bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.
Bidding Shock and Historic Past
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to journalists that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," stating, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price soared rapidly."
This new purchase surpasses his previous 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 once commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to surpass his own record another time.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally characterized by exorbitant prices. Last year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which indicated the fish would be served at its locations throughout the country.
The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.
From Auction to Plate
The record-priced tuna was quickly sliced up for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi chains shortly after the auction concluded.
"I sense like I've started the year in a good way after consuming something so auspicious as the year begins," remarked one happy customer.
