Pacific Bluefin Fish Commands Record Price of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the new year.
The top offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the operator of a nationwide sushi chain, which manages restaurants domestically and overseas.
"The first tuna brings fortune," commented the business owner, a familiar participant at the annual new year's auction.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this businessman is famous for submitting record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent
Following the auction, the winner admitted to journalists that he was "taken aback at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed in no time."
This new purchase surpasses his previous record purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Despite previously commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to surpass his own record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously characterized by sky-high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different food company, which indicated the fish would be served at its locations throughout the country.
The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.
From Auction to Plate
The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter processed for diners at the winner's sushi establishments immediately after the auction concluded.
"I feel like I've started the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," said one happy patron.
