Tokyo fish auction sees bluefin tuna fetching record $3.2m
At Tokyo's Toyosu fish market, a bluefin tuna was sold for a record 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million) during the first auction of the year, a notable event attended by Kiyoshi Kimura of Kiyomura Corp, known for his high bids. This auction, which typically garners significant attention and high prices, saw Kimura expressing surprise at the final bid, acknowledging that he expected a lower price. Previously, he had set record prices in past years, including 333.6 million yen in 2019. The auction is a popular tourist attraction, and the tuna was soon served in Kimura's sushi restaurants, symbolizing good luck as the new year begins. The event highlights the ongoing trend of escalating prices in Japan's seafood market.
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The bluefin tuna weighed 243 kilograms and was auctioned at approximately 05:00 local time, drawing considerable public interest.
Kiyoshi Kimura, dubbed the Tuna King, has a history of high bids, having previously paid 56.5 million yen in 2012 and 155 million yen in 2013.
In 2019, Kimura purchased a bluefin tuna for 333.6 million yen, a record that was surpassed at this auction.
Last year's first tuna at the auction sold for 207 million yen to Onodera Group, which also operates a sushi chain.
The auction atmosphere has become a tourist spectacle, attracting visitors eager to witness the early morning bidding frenzy.
Customers at Kimura's restaurants celebrated the record tuna as an auspicious start to the year, emphasizing the cultural significance of the event.