Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year.
The successful offer for the 535-pound fish came from the operator of a nationwide sushi chain, which manages locations across the country and abroad.
"The first tuna signals fortune," remarked the entrepreneur, a regular bidder at the annual new year's auction.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for submitting record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Auction Surprise and Historic Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder informed reporters that he was "taken aback at the final price," stating, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated rapidly."
This latest purchase surpasses his own notable purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite once remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to shatter his personal record yet again.
A Tradition of High Prices
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically known for exorbitant prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which stated the fish would be featured at its restaurants throughout the country.
The frenetic activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.
From Auction to Plate
The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly sliced up for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction ended.
"I sense like I've begun the year in a good way after consuming something so auspicious as the year gets underway," remarked one satisfied patron.
