Massive Tuna Equaling a Motorcycle's Size Garners Over a Million Dollars at Japanese Auction
High-rated sushi establishment Onodera Group declared victory over the 608-lb (276 kg) fish, valuable enough for a $1 million bid at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market on January 5, as shared by Japanese news agency Kyodo.
This record-breaking bid positioned second on the list of highest prices since the global seafood market, renowned as the world's largest, started tracking data in 1999. Kyodo reported the highest record price of $3.1 million (333.6 million yen) for a 278-kg tuna in 2019.
Vendors showcase their finest catches for auction every morning, except weekends, at this bustling market. However, the New Year's auction holds a unique value for bidders eager to seize the honor of introducing the year's first batch.
"The year's initial tuna brings good fortune. Our aim is to bring joy through food," explained Shinji Nagao, president of Sushi Onodera, as quoted by Kyodo.
The group is responsible for the Michelin-starred Sushi Ginza Onodera chain, operating outlets in Tokyo and Los Angeles.
Kyodo reported that Onodera Group topped the price list for the fifth consecutive year, paying over $720,000 (114.2 million yen) for a bluefin tuna last year at the auction, as per Sushi Ginza Onodera's website.
The Onodera Group caught their latest treasure off the northeastern coast of Aomori prefecture, as per Kyodo.
The fisherman responsible for the catch, Masahiro Takeuchi, expressed his extraordinary happiness to Japanese media. "I'm constantly concerned about how many more years I'll be able to fish like this," the 73-year-old shared with national broadcaster NHK.
The fish market, in operation since 1935, initially greeted visitors in Tsukiji, but moved to Toyosu, a nearby artificial island, in October 2019. This relocation sparked mixed reactions: some advocated for improved facilities, while others criticized the loss of its distinguished location.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), bluefin tuna, the largest species, can live up to 40 years and weigh 1,500 pounds, stretching up to 10 feet. The endangered species traverses all oceans and is facing population decline due to overfishing and illegal fishing, as reported by the WWF.
The Onodera Group, known for its Michelin-starred Sushi Ginza Onodera chain, often participates in the New Year's auction at the Toyosu fish market to introduce the year's first batch of premium fish. This year, they traveled from their Los Angeles outlet to Tokyo to bid on the record-breaking 608-lb tuna.
