Bluefin Fish Sells for Historic Sum of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital Auction
A substantial 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 market's inaugural auction of the new year.
The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which operates outlets across the country and overseas.
"The first tuna brings fortune," commented the business owner, a familiar participant at the yearly first sale.
Dubbed the Tuna King, this entrepreneur is noted for submitting substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.
Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent
After the auction, the winner admitted to reporters that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," noting, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price soared in no time."
This new purchase tops his previous record purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to shatter his own record once again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally known for exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants nationwide.
The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
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The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter processed for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction was finished.
"I sense like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after eating something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one satisfied customer.