Bluefin Fish Sells for Record Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna created waves 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 offer for the 535-pound fish came from the operator of a popular sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets throughout Japan and abroad.
"An inaugural tuna heralds a prosperous start," remarked the business owner, a regular participant at the annual January sale.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic January auctions.
Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the winner admitted to reporters that he was "astonished at the amount," noting, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time."
This new purchase exceeds his own notable purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite previously commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to break his own record another time.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with sky-high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different food company, which stated the fish would be featured at its restaurants across Japan.
The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
From Auction to Plate
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for customers at the bidder's sushi chains immediately after the auction ended.
"I sense like I've started the year in a positive way after eating something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one happy patron.
