Bluefin Fish Sells for Record Sum of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the new year.
The winning bid for the 535-pound fish was placed by the company of a popular sushi restaurant group, which operates restaurants throughout Japan and internationally.
"An inaugural tuna brings a prosperous start," remarked the company president, a familiar bidder at the annual January sale.
Referred to as the Tuna King, this industry figure is famous for placing record bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.
Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder told the press that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," stating, "I had thought we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price escalated rapidly."
This new purchase surpasses his own historic purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to shatter his own record another time.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be featured at its locations nationwide.
The frenetic energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has evolved into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.
From Auction to Plate
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly prepared for patrons at the bidder's sushi establishments shortly after the auction concluded.
"I sense like I've started the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," shared one happy patron.
