Bluefin Fish Commands Historic Price of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital Auction
A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the year.
The top bid for the 535-pound fish came from the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which operates outlets domestically and internationally.
"The year's tuna brings a prosperous start," stated the business owner, a notable bidder at the yearly January sale.
Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is noted for placing high bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions.
Bidding Shock and Historic Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder informed journalists that he was "astonished at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price soared in no time."
This latest acquisition exceeds his own historic purchases:
- He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He paid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Even after once saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to surpass his personal record another time.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically characterized by exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which indicated the fish would be served at its restaurants across Japan.
The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
Swift Service
The record-priced tuna was promptly sliced up for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi chains immediately after the auction ended.
"I sense like I've started the year in a good way after eating something so lucky as the year gets underway," remarked one elated patron.
