Bluefin Tuna Sells for Record Price of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the year.
The top bid for the 535-pound fish came from the operator of a nationwide sushi chain, which operates restaurants across the country and internationally.
"The first tuna signals good luck," remarked the entrepreneur, a notable bidder at the traditional January sale.
Dubbed the Tuna King, this businessman is renowned for placing substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Precedent
Following the auction, the winner told journalists that he was "surprised at the amount," stating, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This most recent purchase exceeds his previous record purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Despite once commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to shatter his personal record another time.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically known for sky-high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which indicated the fish would be served at its locations throughout the country.
The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Immediate Consumption
The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly processed for customers at the winner's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction was finished.
"I sense like I've commenced the year in a positive way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," remarked one happy patron.
