Bluefin Tuna Sells for Unprecedented Price of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital Auction
A substantial bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; ÂŁ2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the year.
The top offer for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the parent firm of a popular sushi chain, which manages restaurants throughout Japan and internationally.
"The first tuna brings fortune," stated the company president, a regular participant at the traditional new year's auction.
Known as the Tuna King, this businessman is noted for making record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Auction Surprise and Historic Past
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "surprised at the winning bid," noting, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed rapidly."
This most recent purchase tops his own historic purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite once saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to surpass his own record another time.
A Tradition of High Prices
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally characterized by exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be served at its eateries nationwide.
The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly prepared for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments immediately after the auction ended.
"I feel like I've commenced the year in a good way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," shared one satisfied diner.
