Bluefin Tuna Sells for Unprecedented Price of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the year.
The top offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the company of a popular sushi chain, which operates outlets throughout Japan and abroad.
"An inaugural tuna brings fortune," stated the entrepreneur, a familiar participant at the annual January sale.
Referred to as the King of Tuna, this businessman is noted for making substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Past
Following the auction, the winner admitted to reporters that he was "astonished at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price escalated before you knew it."
This new acquisition surpasses his own record purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Even after once remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to surpass his personal record yet again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally associated with exorbitant prices. Last year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which indicated the fish would be featured at its restaurants nationwide.
The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was promptly prepared for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction concluded.
"I feel like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," said one happy diner.
