Bluefin Fish Sells for Historic Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo Auction
A massive bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; ÂŁ2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year.
The successful offer for the 243kg fish came from the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which operates restaurants across the country and internationally.
"An inaugural tuna signals a prosperous start," stated the entrepreneur, a regular figure at the traditional January sale.
Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is famous for placing high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.
Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Past
After the auction, the successful bidder told the press that he was "taken aback at the final price," adding, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed in no time."
This latest acquisition exceeds his own notable purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen the following year.
- In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).
Even after previously commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to shatter his personal record once again.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously known for exorbitant prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which stated the fish would be available at its restaurants nationwide.
The intense energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different.
Swift Service
The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly prepared for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants soon after the auction was finished.
"I feel like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after tasting something so auspicious as the year gets underway," remarked one happy patron.
