Pacific Bluefin Fish Commands Record Sum of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year.
The top bid for the 535-pound fish came from the company of a popular sushi restaurant group, which runs locations across the country and abroad.
"The year's tuna signals fortune," commented the company president, a familiar figure at the yearly January sale.
Known as the King of Tuna, this industry figure is famous for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic January auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Precedent
After the auction, the winner admitted to the press that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," stating, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price escalated before you knew it."
This new acquisition tops his own historic purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Despite once saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to shatter his own record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically characterized by exorbitant prices. Last year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its restaurants nationwide.
The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Swift Service
The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly sliced up for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've started the year in a positive way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," remarked one elated diner.
