Pacific Bluefin Fish Sells for Record Price of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the new year.
The top bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which operates locations across the country and overseas.
"An inaugural tuna brings fortune," remarked the company president, a notable bidder at the yearly new year's auction.
Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is noted for making substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.
Auction Surprise and Historic Precedent
Following the auction, the successful bidder told the press that he was "astonished at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This most recent purchase surpasses his previous notable purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Even after previously commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to surpass his own record another time.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously known for exceptionally high prices. Last year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which stated the fish would be served at its eateries throughout the country.
The frenetic energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly processed for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments shortly after the auction ended.
"I feel like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so lucky as the year gets underway," remarked one satisfied diner.
