Bluefin Fish Fetches Unprecedented Bid of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale
A massive bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving 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 was submitted by the parent firm of a nationwide sushi chain, which manages restaurants across the country and overseas.
"The first tuna brings good luck," stated the business owner, a familiar figure at the yearly new year's auction.
Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is renowned for making high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions.
Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Past
Following the auction, the winner told journalists that he was "astonished at the amount," stating, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time."
This new purchase exceeds his previous historic purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite previously remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now proceeded to surpass his personal record once again.
A Tradition of High Prices
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its locations across Japan.
The frenetic energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.
From Auction to Plate
The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for diners at the bidder's sushi establishments immediately after the auction was finished.
"I believe like I've started the year in a positive way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," said one happy patron.
