Pacific Bluefin Fish Sells for Unprecedented Price of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the year.
The top bid for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a nationwide sushi chain, which manages locations domestically and abroad.
"An inaugural tuna signals a prosperous start," remarked the company president, a familiar participant at the annual new year's auction.
Known as the Tuna King, this entrepreneur is noted for submitting record bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Precedent
Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," stating, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed in no time."
This most recent acquisition exceeds his previous record purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Even after previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to break his own record yet again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically characterized by sky-high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be available at its locations throughout the country.
The high-energy energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Immediate Consumption
The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the bidder's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've started the year in a good way after consuming something so auspicious as the year starts," said one satisfied customer.
