Bluefin Tuna Sells for Unprecedented Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale

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

The successful bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the parent firm of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which manages restaurants throughout Japan and overseas.

"The first tuna brings a prosperous start," commented the entrepreneur, a notable bidder at the annual new year's auction.

Referred to as the Tuna King, this industry figure is renowned for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.

Bidding Shock and Historic Precedent

After the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "astonished at the winning bid," noting, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little at a lower price, but the price soared before you knew it."

This new purchase exceeds his previous historic purchases:

• He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
• He paid 155 million yen the following year.
• In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).

Even after previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to shatter his personal record once again.

A Tradition of High Prices

The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally associated with sky-high prices. Last year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which indicated the fish would be served at its locations throughout the country.

The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.

Swift Service

The record-priced tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for diners at the bidder's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction ended.

"I sense like I've begun the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," remarked one happy customer.