Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Price of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the new year.
The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the operator of a popular sushi chain, which runs outlets throughout Japan and overseas.
"The year's tuna brings good luck," commented the company president, a regular figure at the traditional new year's auction.
Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is famous for making high bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "surprised at the final price," noting, "I had thought we would be able to acquire it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated rapidly."
This latest acquisition surpasses his own notable purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Even after once commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to break his own record once again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with sky-high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate sushi chain operator, which stated the fish would be served at its restaurants across Japan.
The frenetic energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
From Auction to Plate
The record-priced tuna was shortly thereafter processed for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi chains immediately after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've begun the year in a good way after tasting something so lucky as the year gets underway," remarked one satisfied patron.
