Bluefin Fish Fetches Unprecedented Price of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the calendar year.
The successful offer for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the operator of a well-known sushi chain, which operates outlets throughout Japan and internationally.
"An inaugural tuna heralds good luck," stated the business owner, a notable figure at the annual first sale.
Referred to as the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for placing record bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.
Auction Surprise and Historic Past
After the auction, the winner told reporters that he was "astonished at the winning bid," stating, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This new purchase exceeds his own notable purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite once saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to break his personal record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with exceptionally high prices. Last year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be served at its restaurants nationwide.
The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
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The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter processed for diners at the bidder's sushi establishments shortly after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've begun the year in a auspicious way after eating something so auspicious as the year begins," shared one satisfied customer.
