A massive bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking 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 came from the operator of a popular sushi chain, which operates outlets domestically and internationally.
"An inaugural tuna brings fortune," stated the company president, a familiar bidder at the yearly new year's auction.
Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is famous for making high bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.
After the auction, the winner informed reporters that he was "astonished at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."
This latest acquisition surpasses his own historic purchases:
Despite previously saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to surpass his own record another time.
The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be featured at its restaurants nationwide.
The intense activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has evolved into a must-see event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.
The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the bidder's sushi restaurants soon after the auction concluded.
"I sense like I've started the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," shared one happy diner.
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