Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Record Bid of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the new year.
The winning offer for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the parent firm of a well-known sushi chain, which runs outlets domestically and internationally.
"An inaugural tuna heralds a prosperous start," stated the business owner, a regular bidder at the traditional first sale.
Referred to as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is noted for placing record bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.
Bidding Shock and Historic Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder informed reporters that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," noting, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price skyrocketed in no time."
This most recent purchase exceeds his own notable purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He bid 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 "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his own record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally known for exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its locations nationwide.
The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different.
From Auction to Plate
The record-priced tuna was promptly sliced up for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction concluded.
"I sense like I've started the year in a positive way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," said one happy patron.
