Pacific Bluefin Fish Fetches Record Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A substantial bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the year.
The winning bid for the 243-kilogram fish came from the company of a popular sushi chain, which runs restaurants across the country and overseas.
"The first tuna brings a prosperous start," remarked the business owner, a regular bidder at the traditional new year's auction.
Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is noted for submitting record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.
Bidding Shock and Historic Past
After the auction, the successful bidder told journalists that he was "astonished at the amount," stating, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price soared rapidly."
This most recent acquisition surpasses his own notable purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after once commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to shatter his own record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural 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 food company, which announced the fish would be available at its restaurants throughout the country.
The frenetic energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has evolved into a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Swift Service
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly processed for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction was finished.
"I feel like I've begun the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," shared one satisfied customer.
