Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the new year.
The winning bid for the 243kg fish was placed by the operator of a nationwide sushi chain, which manages locations across the country and internationally.
"An inaugural tuna heralds a prosperous start," commented the business owner, a familiar participant at the yearly January sale.
Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is renowned for placing substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Historic Past
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," stating, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price escalated rapidly."
This new purchase exceeds his own record purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Despite once saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to break his personal record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously known for exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be served at its eateries throughout the country.
The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Immediate Consumption
The record-priced tuna was quickly prepared for customers at the winner's sushi establishments shortly after the auction ended.
"I sense like I've begun the year in a positive way after tasting something so auspicious as the year starts," said one satisfied customer.
