Bluefin Fish Sells for Historic Sum of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A substantial bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the calendar year.
The top offer for the 535-pound fish came from the operator of a popular sushi restaurant group, which operates outlets domestically and overseas.
"The first tuna heralds a prosperous start," commented the company president, a notable figure at the traditional first sale.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is noted for submitting high bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions.
Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "astonished at the amount," stating, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little at a lower price, but the price soared rapidly."
This new purchase tops his previous historic purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after previously commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to shatter his own record another time.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally known for exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a separate sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be served at its eateries nationwide.
The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Immediate Consumption
The record-priced tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for patrons at the winner's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction was finished.
"I feel like I've begun the year in a good way after tasting something so lucky as the year gets underway," said one happy patron.
