Bluefin Fish Fetches Unprecedented Price of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A massive bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the new year.
The successful bid for the 535-pound fish came from the operator of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which operates outlets across the country and overseas.
"The year's tuna brings a prosperous start," remarked the entrepreneur, a regular bidder at the annual new year's auction.
Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is noted for making substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the successful bidder told reporters that he was "taken aback at the amount," noting, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price escalated in no time."
This new purchase exceeds his previous record purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Even after once commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to surpass his personal record yet again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously associated with exorbitant prices. Last year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which indicated the fish would be served at its eateries throughout the country.
The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly processed for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've commenced the year in a positive way after consuming something so lucky as the year starts," remarked one satisfied customer.