Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Bid of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the year.
The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish came from the operator of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which operates outlets across the country and abroad.
"The first tuna brings fortune," commented the business owner, a familiar figure at the annual January sale.
Known as the Tuna King, this industry figure is renowned for placing substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "astonished at the winning bid," stating, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This latest purchase tops his previous historic purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen back 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 previously commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to shatter his personal record another time.
A Tradition of High Prices
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously known for exorbitant prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different food company, which indicated the fish would be featured at its locations across Japan.
The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a must-see spectacle 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 winner's sushi chains shortly after the auction concluded.
"I feel like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after tasting something so lucky as the year gets underway," said one elated patron.
