$3.2 Million Tuna Sold at Tokyo's New Year Auction
Vocabulary
a public sale where things are sold to the person who offers to pay the most
The extremely rare vase was sold for over $1.2 million at a recent Sotheby's auction.
public attention given to something through news, advertising, or media
The cafe became popular after it got some unexpected publicity on social media.
a feeling of satisfaction or pleasure about something you have done or are connected to
He felt a lot of pride when his younger sister graduated from university.
to return to a normal condition after something difficult or harmful
It took her a few weeks to recover from the flu and get her energy back.
a group of related businesses or stores owned by the same company
David prefers small local restaurants instead of eating at big fast-food chains.
a feeling of admiration for someone or something because of their qualities or achievements
She lost a bit of respect for him when he took credit for someone else's work.
Article
Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.
$3.2 Million Tuna Sold at Tokyo's New Year Auction A huge bluefin tuna was sold for a record price of 510 million yen (about $3.2 million) at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market this week. It became the most expensive tuna ever sold at the famous New Year auction.
The tuna weighed about 243 kilograms and was caught near Ōma, a town in northern Japan known for high-quality tuna. Fish from this area are especially popular because of their rich taste and high fat content.
The buyer was Kiyomura Corporation, which owns the Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain. Its president, Kiyoshi Kimura, is often called the “Tuna King” because he regularly buys the top tuna at these auctions.
Kimura said he hoped the tuna would bring good luck and make people happy at the start of the year. He also said he did not expect the price to become so high, but competition was very strong.
The Toyosu market replaced Tokyo’s old Tsukiji market in 2018 and is now the main seafood market in the city. Hundreds of tuna are sold there every day, but prices are highest at the first auction of the year.
At this auction, the tuna sold for over 2 million yen per kilogram, far higher than normal market prices. Experts say the high price is not only about food, but also about tradition, publicity, and pride.
In the past, bluefin tuna populations dropped because of overfishing. However, international fishing limits have helped the number of fish slowly recover in recent years.
For Kimura and his company, buying the top tuna is both a business decision and a symbol. It brings attention to his restaurants and shows respect for Japan’s food culture and traditions.
Discussion
Have a discussion based on the following questions.
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What are your thoughts on the $3.2 million tuna sale in Tokyo?
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Where's the best place to get fresh seafood in your town or city?
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Have you been to a fish market in Tokyo? Did you enjoy it?
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What’s the most overpriced food you've ever seen or tried?
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What are some of your favorite sushi chains?
Further Discussion
Have a discussion based on the following questions.
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What are some of the fanciest restaurants in your town or city?
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Have you ever been disappointed by an expensive restaurant?
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What are some of the best places to grab a quick and easy bite where you live?
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Who are the biggest food lovers you know?
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"Food is culture. Food is identity, a footprint of who you are." — Lidia Bastianich. What do you make of this statement?