Pacific Bluefin Tuna Commands Unprecedented Price of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year.
The winning bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the parent firm of a popular sushi chain, which operates outlets throughout Japan and internationally.
"The year's tuna signals fortune," commented the company president, a familiar figure at the traditional new year's auction.
Known as the Tuna King, this businessman is noted for submitting record bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the winner told journalists that he was "astonished at the final price," noting, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it."
This latest acquisition exceeds his previous historic purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite once commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to break his personal record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally known for exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which stated the fish would be available at its eateries throughout the country.
The intense energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments immediately after the auction concluded.
"I feel like I've commenced the year in a good way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," shared one satisfied customer.
