Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the new year.
The winning bid for the 535-pound fish was placed by the operator of a popular sushi restaurant group, which runs restaurants throughout Japan and overseas.
"The first tuna heralds fortune," commented the entrepreneur, a familiar participant at the traditional January sale.
Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is noted for submitting record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Past
Following the auction, the winner told reporters that he was "astonished at the final price," stating, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This new purchase tops his own notable purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Even after once commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now proceeded to surpass his own record once again.
A Tradition of High Prices
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally characterized by sky-high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which indicated the fish would be served at its eateries across Japan.
The high-energy activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a must-see event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
From Auction to Plate
The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly prepared for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've commenced the year in a positive way after eating something so lucky as the year starts," said one elated patron.
