Pacific Bluefin Fish Sells for Record Sum of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the new year.
The successful bid for the 243-kilogram fish came from the parent firm of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which runs restaurants domestically and abroad.
"The first tuna brings a prosperous start," commented the company president, a notable figure at the annual first sale.
Referred to as the King of Tuna, this businessman is famous for making substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Historic Past
Following the auction, the winner admitted to journalists that he was "surprised at the amount," stating, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price escalated rapidly."
This latest purchase exceeds his previous notable purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Despite once saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to shatter his own record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally associated with exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its restaurants nationwide.
The high-energy energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Immediate Consumption
The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly prepared for patrons at the bidder's sushi chains soon after the auction ended.
"I feel like I've started the year in a positive way after eating something so auspicious as the year gets underway," remarked one happy patron.
