Bluefin Fish Commands Historic Price of $3.2 million at Tokyo Auction
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the new year.
The top bid for the 535-pound fish came from the operator of a popular sushi chain, which runs locations domestically and abroad.
"The year's tuna heralds fortune," commented the company president, a regular figure at the annual January sale.
Referred to as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is noted for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.
Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent
After the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "taken aback at the amount," adding, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared rapidly."
This new purchase tops his own notable purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after previously saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to break his personal record yet again.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally characterized by sky-high prices. Last year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which announced the fish would be available at its locations nationwide.
The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
From Auction to Plate
The record-priced tuna was promptly sliced up for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments shortly after the auction ended.
"I feel like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so auspicious as the year gets underway," shared one elated customer.
