Bluefin Fish Commands Historic Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction
A bulky bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year.
The successful bid for the 243kg fish came from the parent firm of a popular sushi restaurant group, which manages restaurants domestically and internationally.
"An inaugural tuna heralds good luck," remarked the company president, a familiar participant at the traditional January sale.
Referred to as the King of Tuna, this businessman is famous for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions.
Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the winner informed reporters that he was "astonished at the final price," noting, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated before you knew it."
This new purchase exceeds his previous record purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Even after once saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to break his personal record once again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously characterized by exorbitant prices. The previous year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different food company, which indicated the fish would be available at its locations across Japan.
The intense activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Swift Service
The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter processed for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments shortly after the auction concluded.
"I sense like I've started the year in a good way after tasting something so lucky as the year starts," remarked one satisfied customer.
