Pacific Bluefin Fish Sells for Record Sum of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital Auction
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the new year.
The successful offer for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which operates locations domestically and abroad.
"The year's tuna brings good luck," stated the business owner, a notable participant at the annual new year's auction.
Referred to as the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for submitting record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Bidding Shock and Historic Past
After the auction, the winner admitted to the press that he was "astonished at the amount," stating, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time."
This latest purchase tops his own historic purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite once remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now proceeded to surpass his personal record another time.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously associated with exorbitant prices. Last year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which stated the fish would be available at its locations throughout the country.
The frenetic energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Swift Service
The record-priced tuna was promptly sliced up for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction ended.
"I feel like I've started the year in a good way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," said one satisfied patron.
