Bluefin Fish Fetches Historic Price of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital Auction
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the new year.
The top offer for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the parent firm of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets across the country and internationally.
"The year's tuna brings a prosperous start," remarked the business owner, a notable participant at the annual new year's auction.
Dubbed the Tuna King, this entrepreneur is noted for making high bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Auction Surprise and Historic Precedent
After the auction, the winner told reporters that he was "astonished at the final price," adding, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price soared rapidly."
This new purchase surpasses his previous historic purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Even after previously commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to surpass his own record yet again.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically known for sky-high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be featured at its eateries throughout the country.
The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Immediate Consumption
The record-priced tuna was promptly sliced up for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants 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," said one satisfied customer.
