Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Unprecedented Sum of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic 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 243-kilogram fish came from the parent firm of a popular sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets throughout Japan and abroad.
"An inaugural tuna brings a prosperous start," stated the entrepreneur, a regular bidder at the traditional new year's auction.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this industry figure is renowned for making record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions.
Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent
Following the auction, the successful bidder told reporters that he was "astonished at the winning bid," stating, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price escalated before you knew it."
This new acquisition exceeds his own notable purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Despite previously saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to break his own record yet again.
A Tradition of High Prices
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally associated with sky-high prices. Last year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another food company, which indicated the fish would be featured at its restaurants across Japan.
The intense activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
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The record-priced tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for customers at the bidder's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction was finished.
"I feel like I've commenced the year in a positive way after eating something so lucky as the year starts," shared one happy patron.
