Pacific Bluefin Fish Commands Unprecedented Price of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction
A bulky bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the year.
The top bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the parent firm of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which runs restaurants domestically and overseas.
"The year's tuna heralds fortune," remarked the entrepreneur, a regular bidder at the traditional first sale.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for submitting high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Historic Past
After the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "astonished at the amount," stating, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed rapidly."
This latest purchase exceeds his own notable purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back 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 remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to shatter his personal record another time.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally associated with exceptionally high prices. Last year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a separate sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be available at its restaurants nationwide.
The high-energy activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
From Auction to Plate
The extremely valuable tuna was promptly processed for customers at the winner's sushi establishments shortly after the auction concluded.
"I feel like I've started the year in a auspicious way after tasting something so lucky as the year starts," said one satisfied diner.
