Bluefin Tuna Sells for Unprecedented Sum of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo Auction
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the new year.
The successful offer for the 535-pound fish was placed by the company of a popular sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets across the country and abroad.
"An inaugural tuna signals good luck," commented the entrepreneur, a familiar figure at the annual new year's auction.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.
Auction Shock and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," adding, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price soared rapidly."
This latest purchase surpasses his previous historic purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Even after once remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to surpass his personal record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously characterized by exorbitant prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which stated the fish would be available at its locations nationwide.
The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Swift Service
The extremely valuable tuna was promptly prepared for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments shortly after the auction concluded.
"I believe like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so lucky as the year gets underway," remarked one satisfied customer.
