Pacific Bluefin Fish Sells for Record Bid of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the new year.
The top offer for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the operator of a nationwide sushi chain, which runs restaurants domestically and abroad.
"The year's tuna signals good luck," commented the company president, a notable bidder at the traditional first sale.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Past
After the auction, the winner admitted to journalists that he was "taken aback at the final price," stating, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price soared before you knew it."
This most recent acquisition surpasses his previous historic purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite once saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to break his personal record once again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously known for exorbitant prices. Last year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which stated the fish would be featured at its restaurants nationwide.
The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
From Auction to Plate
The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter processed for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction concluded.
"I believe like I've started the year in a auspicious way after eating something so lucky as the year gets underway," said one happy customer.
