Bluefin Tuna Commands Unprecedented Sum of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale
A massive bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the new year.
The top offer for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the parent firm of a nationwide sushi chain, which operates restaurants domestically and overseas.
"The year's tuna signals fortune," commented the company president, a familiar participant at the annual first sale.
Referred to as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is noted for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Historic Past
Following the auction, the winner admitted to the press that he was "astonished at the final price," noting, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it."
This latest purchase tops his own notable purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Even after once remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to surpass his personal record once again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally known for exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be served at its eateries across Japan.
The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
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The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants soon after the auction concluded.
"I sense like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after eating something so lucky as the year starts," said one satisfied customer.