Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Bid of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year.
The winning bid for the 535-pound fish came from the company of a popular sushi restaurant group, which operates locations throughout Japan and overseas.
"An inaugural tuna brings good luck," stated the entrepreneur, a regular figure at the traditional first sale.
Known as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for submitting substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Historic Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder informed reporters 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 soared before you knew it."
This new purchase tops his previous notable purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Even after once commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to break his own record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically known for sky-high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which indicated the fish would be featured at its restaurants nationwide.
The high-energy activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Immediate Consumption
The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter processed for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction was finished.
"I sense like I've begun the year in a positive way after eating something so lucky as the year starts," shared one satisfied patron.
