Bluefin Fish Fetches Record Price of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale
A substantial bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the calendar year.
The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish came from the parent firm of a popular sushi restaurant group, which runs locations domestically and abroad.
"The year's tuna brings fortune," stated the business owner, a familiar participant at the annual January sale.
Known as the King of Tuna, this industry figure is renowned for submitting substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Historic Past
Following the auction, the winner informed reporters that he was "astonished at the winning bid," stating, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time."
This most recent purchase tops his previous record purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Even after once saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to break his own record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously associated with exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which indicated the fish would be available at its eateries across Japan.
The high-energy activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.
From Auction to Plate
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the bidder's sushi chains immediately after the auction ended.
"I sense like I've begun the year in a good way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," said one happy patron.