Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Unprecedented Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale

A massive bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the year.

The winning offer for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which manages locations throughout Japan and abroad.

"The first tuna signals fortune," stated the business owner, a notable figure at the yearly January sale.

Dubbed the King of Tuna, this businessman is noted for making substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.

Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent

After the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "astonished at the amount," stating, "I had thought we would be able to acquire it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time."

This most recent purchase surpasses his previous notable purchases:

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

Even after previously remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now proceeded to shatter his personal record another time.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally known for exorbitant prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be featured at its locations across Japan.

The high-energy energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.

From Auction to Plate

The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly processed for diners at the winner's sushi establishments soon after the auction concluded.

"I believe like I've started the year in a positive way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," remarked one satisfied customer.