Bluefin Fish Sells for Record Bid of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the calendar year.
The winning bid for the 535-pound fish came from the company of a nationwide sushi chain, which operates locations across the country and overseas.
"The first tuna signals a prosperous start," remarked the company president, a regular bidder at the yearly January sale.
Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is noted for submitting high bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "taken aback at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price escalated before you knew it."
This new acquisition exceeds his own historic purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Despite previously saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to break his own record once again.
A Tradition of High Prices
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically characterized by sky-high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be served at its locations throughout the country.
The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these early morning auctions has evolved into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly prepared for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction ended.
"I sense like I've started the year in a auspicious way after tasting something so lucky as the year gets underway," remarked one elated diner.
