Pacific Bluefin Fish Fetches Unprecedented Price of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the calendar year.
The winning offer for the 243-kilogram fish came from the company of a well-known sushi chain, which manages restaurants across the country and overseas.
"The year's tuna heralds fortune," commented the company president, a familiar bidder at the traditional new year's auction.
Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is noted for making record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.
Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent
Following the auction, the successful bidder informed reporters that he was "surprised at the winning bid," adding, "I had thought we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This latest purchase exceeds his previous notable purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite previously saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to shatter his personal record another time.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally known for sky-high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which indicated the fish would be served at its eateries nationwide.
The high-energy energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly prepared for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi chains shortly after the auction concluded.
"I sense like I've commenced the year in a good way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," remarked one satisfied patron.
