A massive Pacific bluefin tuna was sold at auction for $275,000 during the first auction of the new year at the Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan.
The first auction of 2023 at the Toyosu Fish Market recorded a price of $275,000 for a giant tuna, Bloomberg reported on January 5.
The bluefin tuna, weighing 212 kg, was caught off the coast of Oma in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan.
The Oma bluefin tuna is dubbed the “black diamond” due to its high value.
According to a spokesperson for Onodera, the seafood wholesaler Yamayuki collaborated with the Michelin-starred sushi chain operator Onodera Group to win the auction.
The tuna will be divided into several portions to serve customers at Onodera’s restaurant in the Omotesando shopping district of Tokyo later on January 5.
The 212 kg bluefin tuna displayed after the auction. (Photo: Kyodo).
“I want to create some positive news as the (impact from) the Covid-19 pandemic gradually subsides,” said Yukitaka Yamaguchi, president of Yamayuki, as reported by Kyodo News.
Meanwhile, Akifumi Sakagami, the head chef at Ginza Onodera, shared: “I want to thank those who brought this wonderful tuna. Those who eat it will definitely be satisfied.”
The price may indicate that Japan is recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, as people return to restaurants and bars.
However, this year’s price still pales in comparison to the record of over $2.5 million set in 2019 by Kiyoshi Kimura, the owner of the sushi chain.
Prices at the first auctions of the year in Japan are usually higher than normal as bidders look to take advantage of the occasion to celebrate the New Year and promote their brands.
