Something fishy just happened in Japan — but we don’t mean anything suspicious.
A huge bluefin tuna was sold at Tokyo’s largest fish market for a whopping 114.2 million yen, or $788,440, according to Bloomberg. This sale took place at the first-day-of-business auction, which has become a new year’s tradition in Japan. The 525-pound fish was purchased by seafood wholesaler Yamayuki and the sushi-restaurant company Onodera Group.
Yukitaka Yamaguchi, the president of Yamayuki, expressed his determination to win the bid, stating, If we were going to do it, we wanted to win.
This year’s bluefin tuna was sold for three times the amount of last year’s fish, making it the fourth highest price paid since record-keeping began in 1999, according to Hiroki Matsushita, a Toyosu fish market official. The fish was caught off the coast of Aomori prefecture and will be served at the Michelin-starred Onodera in Tokyo’s Ginza district.
The Onodera Group has been the top bidder at the fish auction for the past four years. This year, they paid a record-breaking amount, possibly indicating Japan’s recovery from the worst of the pandemic. The lifting of Covid restrictions has resulted in increased restaurant attendance by both locals and tourists throughout the country. In fact, the number of visitors has already returned to pre-pandemic levels, with more than 2 million tourists entering Japan each of the past six months, as reported by the country’s National Tourism Organization.
Visitors seeking good luck for the new year will likely flock to Onodera to get a taste of the bluefin tuna, which is considered an auspicious fish. Unfortunately, Onodera’s New York City location is closed, and it is unclear whether their Los Angeles and Hawaii spots will be serving the prized fish. However, it’s safe to assume that diners in those locations would be willing to pay a premium for this Japanese delicacy.
In conclusion, a 525-pound bluefin tuna was sold for nearly $800,000 at Tokyo’s New Year’s auction. The historic price reflects the prestige associated with this annual event and the significance of the bluefin tuna in Japanese cuisine. As Japan’s tourism industry rebounds, locals and international visitors are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to savor this auspicious fish, bringing a taste of luck and prosperity for the new year.
