Bluefin Fish Fetches Record Sum of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo Auction
A massive bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the year.
The winning bid for the 535-pound fish came from the company of a popular sushi chain, which runs outlets throughout Japan and abroad.
"An inaugural tuna brings good luck," commented the company president, a familiar figure at the traditional new year's auction.
Known as the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is renowned for submitting substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "astonished at the amount," noting, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price escalated before you knew it."
This latest purchase tops his previous historic purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Despite once commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to surpass his personal record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously associated with sky-high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different food company, which stated the fish would be available at its eateries across Japan.
The frenetic activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
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The record-priced tuna was promptly prepared for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments soon after the auction concluded.
"I sense like I've started the year in a positive way after tasting something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one elated patron.
