Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Bid of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the year.
The successful bid for the 243kg fish came from the operator of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which manages locations across the country and internationally.
"The first tuna signals a prosperous start," stated the company president, a regular bidder at the annual first sale.
Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is noted for submitting record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Bidding Shock and Historic Precedent
After the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "surprised at the final price," adding, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price escalated before you knew it."
This most recent purchase exceeds his previous record purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Despite once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to shatter his personal record once again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally known for exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which announced the fish would be available at its eateries across Japan.
The intense energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Swift Service
The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for patrons at the bidder's sushi establishments shortly after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've commenced the year in a good way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," shared one elated diner.
