Pacific Bluefin Fish Fetches Historic Bid of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale

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

The successful bid for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the parent firm of a popular sushi restaurant group, which operates restaurants throughout Japan and overseas.

"The first tuna heralds good luck," commented the entrepreneur, a notable participant at the yearly new year's auction.

Known as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for making substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.

Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Past

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

This latest acquisition exceeds his previous record purchases:

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

Despite once remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now proceeded to break his own record another time.

An Annual Spectacle of High Prices

The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with sky-high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which announced the fish would be featured at its locations across Japan.

The high-energy energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.

Swift Service

The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly prepared for customers at the bidder's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction concluded.

"I believe like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so lucky as the year starts," said one happy diner.