Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fetches Unprecedented Price of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A massive 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 inaugural auction of the year.
The winning offer for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a nationwide sushi chain, which operates restaurants throughout Japan and abroad.
"An inaugural tuna signals fortune," commented the company president, a familiar bidder at the yearly January sale.
Dubbed the Tuna King, this entrepreneur is renowned for placing substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Past
Following the auction, the winner admitted to the press that he was "astonished at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price soared in no time."
This new acquisition exceeds his previous notable purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Even after previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his own record another time.
A Tradition of High Prices
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which announced the fish would be served at its locations throughout the country.
The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Swift Service
The extremely valuable tuna was promptly sliced up for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants soon after the auction concluded.
"I believe like I've started the year in a good way after eating something so lucky as the year starts," shared one elated patron.
