Bluefin Tuna Fetches Unprecedented Sum of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital Auction
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the year.
The winning bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the parent firm of a nationwide sushi chain, which manages restaurants across the country and overseas.
"An inaugural tuna brings fortune," commented the business owner, a regular bidder at the traditional new year's auction.
Referred to as the Tuna King, this businessman is renowned for submitting substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent
After the auction, the successful bidder told journalists that he was "taken aback at the amount," stating, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated before you knew it."
This latest acquisition exceeds his previous record purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Even after previously saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to shatter his personal record once again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with exceptionally high prices. Last year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different food company, which indicated the fish would be served at its eateries across Japan.
The high-energy energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Immediate Consumption
The record-priced tuna was quickly sliced up for patrons at the bidder's sushi establishments soon after the auction was finished.
"I feel like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so auspicious as the year starts," shared one happy customer.