Pacific Bluefin Fish Fetches Record Price of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction
A massive bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the new year.
The successful offer for the 243kg fish was submitted by the operator of a popular sushi restaurant group, which operates locations domestically and abroad.
"An inaugural tuna heralds a prosperous start," stated the entrepreneur, a notable figure at the annual new year's auction.
Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is noted for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Past
Following the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "astonished at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This new purchase tops his previous historic purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Despite once remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to break his personal record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with sky-high prices. Last year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be served at its locations nationwide.
The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Immediate Consumption
The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly prepared for diners at the winner's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction was finished.
"I believe like I've commenced the year in a good way after eating something so lucky as the year begins," remarked one happy diner.
