Bluefin Tuna Commands Unprecedented Price of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale
A bulky bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the calendar year.
The successful bid for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi chain, which manages restaurants across the country and abroad.
"The first tuna brings fortune," commented the business owner, a regular figure at the traditional January sale.
Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is famous for making record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Historic Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder told the press that he was "surprised at the winning bid," stating, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price soared in no time."
This latest acquisition tops his own historic purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 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 "did too much," he has now gone on to surpass his personal record yet again.
An Annual Spectacle of High Prices
The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be available at its eateries nationwide.
The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Immediate Consumption
The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter processed for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction ended.
"I sense like I've commenced the year in a good way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," said one happy patron.
