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

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

The successful bid for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the parent firm of a popular sushi chain, which operates restaurants across the country and abroad.

"An inaugural tuna brings a prosperous start," stated the business owner, a familiar figure at the annual January sale.

Known as the Tuna King, this businessman is noted for placing high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.

Auction Surprise and Historic Past

After the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "surprised at the winning bid," noting, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."

This latest purchase tops his own record purchases:

• He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
• He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
• In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).

Despite once saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his own record another time.

A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids

The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically known for exorbitant prices. Last year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be served at its eateries throughout the country.

The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.

Swift Service

The record-priced tuna was quickly prepared for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction concluded.

"I feel like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after eating something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one satisfied diner.