The bluefin tuna is ready for auction. (Image via ABC News)

Tuna market in Japan hit hard by COVID-19 pandemics

Leading the world on tuna consumption, Japan's tuna market took the hardest blow from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemics as the restaurants and wholesale owners crowded Toyosu Fish Market in order to get more chances of survival.

According to the government data, the order for bluefin tuna - known as the "king of sushi" - was swept away by the pandemics. The price for fresh tuna slumped by 8.4% in July compared to the same period last year. The annual price fall for tuna was expected to be only 1.5%.

Despite the fact that Japan had lifted its state of emergency, many people are still wary to enter restaurants, especially izakayas. Compared to last August, one izakaya stated that its sales dropped by nearly 60%.

Yasuyuki Shimahara, an owner of a tuna sushi-specialized izakaya in Kanda, Tokyo, stated that he started offering tuna online. Since July, he offers a box of 2 slices of frozen akami red tuna, starting 5,500 yen. In September, he aimed to sell a more luxurious chutoro tuna box starting 8,500 yen. Shimahara stated that he had received at least 200 orders for the 5,500 yen box. However, some found defrosting the akami off-putting.

Tuna's house consumption was not enough to salvage. While tuna orders from restaurants showed a slight rebound, big events such as wedding receptions and meetings are being put on hold which also affected how the tuna. For big events, usually about 30 - 40 kgs of tuna are being placed on order, while restaurants and izakayas only put 6 - 10 kgs.

Source: https://bit.ly/3idQxlM