Pacific Bluefin Fish Fetches Historic Price of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo Auction
A bulky bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the new year.
The winning offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the operator of a well-known sushi chain, which runs locations throughout Japan and overseas.
"The year's tuna brings a prosperous start," stated the company president, a notable figure at the traditional January sale.
Known as the King of Tuna, this businessman is renowned for placing substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic January auctions.
Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "astonished at the final price," noting, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This most recent purchase tops his own notable purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite once remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to break his own record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically known for exorbitant prices. The previous year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which indicated the fish would be available at its eateries nationwide.
The intense energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
From Auction to Plate
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments immediately after the auction concluded.
"I feel like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so auspicious as the year gets underway," remarked one elated customer.
