Bluefin Fish Commands Historic Bid of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction
A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the 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 calendar year.
The top offer for the 535-pound fish was placed by the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets domestically and abroad.
"An inaugural tuna signals good luck," stated the company president, a notable figure at the yearly January sale.
Known as the King of Tuna, this businessman is noted for placing record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions.
Bidding Shock and Historic Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder told the press that he was "astonished at the final price," noting, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price escalated in no time."
This latest purchase surpasses his own notable purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Even after once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to break his own record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally characterized by exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be featured at its locations across Japan.
The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
From Auction to Plate
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for patrons at the bidder's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction ended.
"I feel like I've commenced the year in a positive way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," remarked one happy patron.
