Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Sum of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale
A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year.
The top bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the operator of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which manages locations domestically and abroad.
"The year's tuna signals a prosperous start," commented the company president, a familiar participant at the traditional first sale.
Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is famous for submitting high bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.
Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent
Following the auction, the winner admitted to journalists that he was "surprised at the winning bid," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This new purchase exceeds his previous record purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Despite once remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to break his own record another time.
A Tradition of High Prices
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously known for sky-high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different food company, which indicated the fish would be featured at its eateries throughout the country.
The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Swift Service
The extremely valuable tuna was promptly prepared for diners at the bidder's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction concluded.
"I believe like I've started the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," shared one elated patron.
