Pacific Bluefin Fish Sells for Record Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna created waves 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 top offer for the 243kg fish came from the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs locations across the country and overseas.
"The first tuna heralds good luck," commented the company president, a regular bidder at the annual January sale.
Known as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is renowned for making high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions.
Bidding Shock and Historic Past
After the auction, the winner informed reporters that he was "astonished at the amount," adding, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price escalated in no time."
This new purchase tops his previous historic purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Even after once saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to shatter his personal record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically known for sky-high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which stated the fish would be served at its eateries throughout the country.
The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was promptly processed for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments immediately after the auction concluded.
"I feel like I've begun the year in a positive way after consuming something so auspicious as the year gets underway," shared one elated patron.
