Pacific Bluefin Fish Sells for Unprecedented Sum of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital Auction
A massive bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; ÂŁ2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the year.
The top offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the parent firm of a popular sushi chain, which manages outlets domestically and internationally.
"The first tuna signals good luck," remarked the business owner, a regular figure at the yearly new year's auction.
Known as the Tuna King, this entrepreneur is noted for placing record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Auction Surprise and Historic Past
After the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "taken aback at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This most recent acquisition surpasses his own historic purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Despite previously saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to break his own record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally known for exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be served at its locations across Japan.
The intense energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
From Auction to Plate
The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction concluded.
"I believe like I've commenced the year in a good way after tasting something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one elated diner.
