Pacific Bluefin Fish Fetches Historic Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital Auction
A substantial bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the year.
The top bid for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs restaurants throughout Japan and overseas.
"The first tuna signals a prosperous start," remarked the entrepreneur, a familiar participant at the traditional January sale.
Dubbed the Tuna King, this industry figure is noted for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions.
Auction Shock and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the winner admitted to the press that he was "surprised at the winning bid," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price soared before you knew it."
This most recent acquisition tops his own historic purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Even after previously saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now proceeded to surpass his own record yet again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously known for exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be featured at its restaurants across Japan.
The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi chains immediately after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," said one satisfied diner.