Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Sum of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the year.
The winning bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi chain, which operates locations domestically and overseas.
"The year's tuna brings a prosperous start," stated the business owner, a notable bidder at the yearly January sale.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this businessman is renowned for submitting high bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.
Auction Surprise and Historic Precedent
Following the auction, the winner admitted to journalists that he was "surprised at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price soared rapidly."
This latest acquisition surpasses his own historic purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite previously commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to shatter his own record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously associated with exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants across Japan.
The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly prepared for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants soon after the auction concluded.
"I sense like I've begun the year in a good way after consuming something so lucky as the year gets underway," remarked one elated customer.
