Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Record Price of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale

A substantial bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the new year.

The top offer for the 243kg fish came from the company of a popular sushi restaurant group, which manages outlets across the country and internationally.

"An inaugural tuna heralds fortune," stated the business owner, a familiar participant at the yearly new year's auction.

Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is noted for submitting high bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.

Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent

Following the auction, the successful bidder told the press that he was "astonished at the winning bid," adding, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."

This most recent purchase exceeds his previous notable purchases:

• He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
• He bid 155 million yen in 2013.
• In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).

Despite once saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to surpass his personal record another time.

A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids

The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with sky-high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be served at its locations across Japan.

The frenetic energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.

Immediate Consumption

The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for customers at the bidder's sushi chains immediately after the auction concluded.

"I believe like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so auspicious as the year gets underway," shared one elated customer.