Pacific Bluefin Fish Commands Record Sum of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; ÂŁ2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year.
The winning offer for the 243-kilogram fish came from the company of a popular sushi chain, which manages locations throughout Japan and internationally.
"The first tuna brings a prosperous start," commented the business owner, a regular bidder at the traditional new year's auction.
Known as the Tuna King, this businessman is renowned for placing record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Auction Surprise and Historic Past
Following the auction, the winner admitted to journalists that he was "taken aback at the amount," noting, "I had thought we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This most recent purchase surpasses his own record purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Despite once saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to shatter his own record once again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously characterized by exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be featured at its locations nationwide.
The intense atmosphere 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 equally bustling.
Swift Service
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly processed for customers at the winner's sushi chains immediately after the auction concluded.
"I feel like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so lucky as the year gets underway," said one satisfied customer.
