Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction
A massive bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the new year.
The successful offer for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the operator of a popular sushi restaurant group, which manages restaurants across the country and abroad.
"The year's tuna heralds good luck," commented the company president, a regular participant at the traditional January sale.
Known as the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is famous for making substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder informed the press that he was "astonished at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed in no time."
This new acquisition tops his previous notable purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after once remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to shatter his own record yet again.
A Tradition of High Prices
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously associated with sky-high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which stated the fish would be served at its restaurants nationwide.
The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
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The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly sliced up for customers at the winner's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction was finished.
"I believe like I've started the year in a positive way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," said one elated customer.
