Bluefin Fish Fetches Record Bid of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale
A substantial bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; ÂŁ2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year.
The winning bid for the 243kg fish was placed by the operator of a well-known sushi chain, which operates restaurants throughout Japan and internationally.
"An inaugural tuna brings a prosperous start," remarked the entrepreneur, a regular participant at the yearly new year's auction.
Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is renowned for submitting record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.
Auction Shock and Historic Past
Following the auction, the winner told journalists that he was "astonished at the amount," stating, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price escalated rapidly."
This latest purchase exceeds his own notable purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Despite once saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to shatter his personal record yet again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with sky-high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be available at its locations across Japan.
The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Swift Service
The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly sliced up for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants soon after the auction ended.
"I sense like I've begun the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so lucky as the year gets underway," shared one satisfied customer.
