Pacific Bluefin Fish Commands Record Bid of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; ÂŁ2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the calendar year.
The top bid for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the operator of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which manages locations domestically and overseas.
"The year's tuna brings good luck," commented the entrepreneur, a familiar participant at the annual new year's auction.
Dubbed the Tuna King, this businessman is famous for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Auction Shock and Record-Setting Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder informed reporters that he was "astonished at the amount," adding, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed in no time."
This new acquisition exceeds his previous historic purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Even after once remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to surpass his personal record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which announced the fish would be featured at its restaurants nationwide.
The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Immediate Consumption
The record-priced tuna was promptly processed for customers at the bidder's sushi chains shortly after the auction was finished.
"I believe like I've commenced the year in a positive way after consuming something so lucky as the year begins," remarked one happy diner.
