Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Bid of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital Auction
A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the year.
The winning offer for the 535-pound fish came from the company of a nationwide sushi chain, which runs locations across the country and internationally.
"The year's tuna heralds good luck," remarked the company president, a notable bidder at the traditional January sale.
Referred to as the Tuna King, this businessman is renowned for making substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Auction Shock and Record-Setting Past
Following the auction, the winner told reporters that he was "taken aback at the final price," adding, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This new purchase surpasses his own notable purchases:
- He paid 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 dollars).
Even after once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to shatter his own record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically characterized by exorbitant prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be available at its restaurants across Japan.
The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
From Auction to Plate
The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi chains shortly after the auction ended.
"I feel like I've started the year in a auspicious way after eating something so auspicious as the year starts," remarked one satisfied customer.