Bluefin Tuna Fetches Unprecedented Price of $3.2 million at Tokyo Auction
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; ÂŁ2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the year.
The winning offer for the 243kg fish came from the operator of a well-known sushi chain, which manages restaurants domestically and internationally.
"The first tuna heralds good luck," stated the company president, a familiar participant at the annual first sale.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this businessman is famous for making record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic January auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder told journalists that he was "taken aback at the final price," noting, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared before you knew it."
This latest purchase exceeds his previous notable purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Despite once commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to surpass his own record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously known for exceptionally high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its restaurants nationwide.
The intense energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was promptly processed for patrons at the bidder's sushi establishments shortly after the auction concluded.
"I believe like I've commenced the year in a positive way after eating something so lucky as the year starts," remarked one satisfied diner.
