Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Price of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the calendar year.
The successful bid for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the company of a nationwide sushi chain, which operates restaurants domestically and internationally.
"The first tuna heralds fortune," stated the entrepreneur, a familiar figure at the annual new year's auction.
Known as the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is noted for placing substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Past
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "taken aback at the amount," stating, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed rapidly."
This new acquisition exceeds his own record purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite previously remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to break his personal record yet again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously characterized by exorbitant prices. Last year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another food company, which stated the fish would be served at its eateries throughout the country.
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 started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Swift Service
The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly prepared for diners at the bidder's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction ended.
"I sense like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after eating something so lucky as the year gets underway," remarked one elated customer.
