Bluefin Fish Sells for Historic Bid of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale
A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the year.
The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish came from the company of a well-known sushi chain, which manages restaurants throughout Japan and overseas.
"An inaugural tuna brings good luck," remarked the company president, a familiar participant at the annual new year's auction.
Referred to as the Tuna King, this businessman is famous for placing substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Precedent
After the auction, the winner admitted to the press that he was "astonished at the winning bid," noting, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This most recent acquisition exceeds his previous notable purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after once saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to surpass his own record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically characterized by exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which stated the fish would be available at its eateries throughout the country.
The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly prepared for customers at the winner's sushi chains soon after the auction ended.
"I feel like I've commenced the year in a good way after eating something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one elated customer.
