Bluefin Fish Sells for Unprecedented Bid of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale
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; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the new year.
The top offer for the 243-kilogram fish came from the parent firm of a popular sushi chain, which operates locations throughout Japan and overseas.
"An inaugural tuna heralds fortune," remarked the entrepreneur, a familiar bidder at the annual new year's auction.
Known as the Tuna King, this industry figure is noted for submitting substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Precedent
After the auction, the successful bidder told the press that he was "astonished at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated rapidly."
This new purchase exceeds his own notable purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Even after previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his own record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously characterized by sky-high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be available at its eateries throughout the country.
The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Swift Service
The record-priced tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the winner's sushi chains soon after the auction ended.
"I believe like I've started the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," said one happy diner.
