Bluefin Tuna Commands Historic Price of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale
A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; ÂŁ2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the new year.
The successful offer for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the operator of a popular sushi restaurant group, which manages restaurants throughout Japan and overseas.
"An inaugural tuna brings a prosperous start," commented the company president, a notable figure at the traditional first sale.
Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is famous for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions.
Auction Surprise and Historic Past
Following the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "taken aback at the amount," adding, "I had thought we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price escalated rapidly."
This new purchase exceeds his own historic purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to break his own record yet again.
A Tradition of High Prices
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously associated with exceptionally high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be available at its locations across Japan.
The high-energy activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
From Auction to Plate
The record-priced tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi chains shortly after the auction ended.
"I sense like I've commenced the year in a positive way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," shared one happy patron.
