Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo Auction
A bulky bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the year.
The successful offer for the 243kg fish was submitted by the parent firm of a well-known sushi chain, which operates restaurants throughout Japan and overseas.
"The first tuna signals fortune," stated the company president, a familiar participant at the yearly January sale.
Referred to as the King of Tuna, this industry figure is famous for placing record bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.
Bidding Shock and Historic Precedent
Following the auction, the winner told journalists that he was "surprised at the final price," noting, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it."
This new acquisition surpasses his previous record purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Despite previously remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to break his own record another time.
A Tradition of High Prices
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously known for sky-high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which indicated the fish would be available at its locations across Japan.
The intense energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Immediate Consumption
The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly sliced up for customers at the winner's sushi chains immediately after the auction concluded.
"I feel like I've started the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," remarked one satisfied diner.
