Bluefin Fish Sells for Historic Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital Auction
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year.
The successful bid for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the parent firm of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which operates outlets across the country and internationally.
"The first tuna heralds a prosperous start," commented the business owner, a notable participant at the annual new year's auction.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this industry figure is famous for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "astonished at the amount," stating, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price soared in no time."
This new acquisition exceeds his previous record purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired 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 surpass his personal record yet again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously characterized by exorbitant prices. Last year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be featured at its restaurants throughout the country.
The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Swift Service
The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly sliced up for customers at the bidder's sushi establishments immediately after the auction ended.
"I sense like I've commenced the year in a positive way after tasting something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one satisfied patron.
