Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Price of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the year.
The successful bid for the 243kg fish came from the company of a nationwide sushi chain, which operates locations domestically and internationally.
"The year's tuna brings a prosperous start," remarked the business owner, a notable figure at the traditional first sale.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for placing high bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.
Bidding Shock and Historic Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder told journalists that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," stating, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price escalated in no time."
This new purchase tops his own historic purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to shatter his personal record yet again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally known for exceptionally high prices. Last year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its restaurants across Japan.
The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Immediate Consumption
The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter processed for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments shortly after the auction was finished.
"I feel like I've commenced the year in a positive way after tasting something so lucky as the year begins," remarked one satisfied patron.
