Bluefin Tuna Sells for Record Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the new year.
The successful offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the parent firm of a popular sushi chain, which runs restaurants throughout Japan and abroad.
"The first tuna signals good luck," stated the company president, a notable bidder at the traditional January sale.
Known as the Tuna King, this industry figure is renowned for placing record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Past
Following the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "surprised at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price escalated in no time."
This most recent acquisition surpasses his own record purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after once remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now proceeded to break his personal record yet again.
A Tradition of High Prices
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically known for sky-high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which announced the fish would be available at its restaurants throughout the country.
The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Immediate Consumption
The record-priced tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the bidder's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction was finished.
"I sense like I've started the year in a auspicious way after tasting something so lucky as the year gets underway," said one elated diner.
