Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fetches Unprecedented Bid of $3.2m at Japanese Capital Auction
A bulky bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the calendar year.
The winning offer for the 243kg fish was submitted by the operator of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which manages locations throughout Japan and overseas.
"An inaugural tuna signals fortune," commented the company president, a familiar bidder at the traditional first sale.
Known as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is famous for placing record bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.
Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Past
Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to journalists that he was "surprised at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price soared in no time."
This new purchase tops his own historic purchases:
- He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
- He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
- In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).
Despite previously remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to shatter his personal record another time.
An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids
The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally characterized by exorbitant prices. The previous year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be available at its locations nationwide.
The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.
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The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for diners at the winner's sushi establishments shortly after the auction concluded.
"I feel like I've started the year in a positive way after consuming something so auspicious as the year gets underway," shared one happy patron.
