Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fetches Record Price of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital Auction
A massive Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the calendar year.
The successful offer for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the parent firm of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which operates locations throughout Japan and overseas.
"The first tuna signals good luck," remarked the company president, a notable bidder at the traditional new year's auction.
Dubbed the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for submitting high bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent
After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "taken aback at the amount," stating, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price soared before you knew it."
This latest purchase surpasses his own historic purchases:
- He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He bid 155 million yen a year later.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).
Despite once commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to break his own record once again.
A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously associated with exceptionally high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be served at its locations across Japan.
The intense energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.
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The record-priced tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments immediately after the auction concluded.
"I believe like I've started the year in a auspicious way after eating something so lucky as the year begins," remarked one happy patron.
