Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Sum of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale

A substantial bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year.

The top bid for the 243kg fish came from the parent firm of a nationwide sushi chain, which runs locations throughout Japan and internationally.

"An inaugural tuna heralds good luck," remarked the company president, a regular bidder at the annual first sale.

Known as the King of Tuna, this businessman is noted for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.

Auction Surprise and Historic Past

After the auction, the winner told reporters that he was "surprised at the winning bid," stating, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price soared rapidly."

This most recent acquisition tops his own notable purchases:

• He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
• He bid 155 million yen a year later.
• In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).

Despite previously remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to shatter his personal record yet again.

A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids

The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally characterized by exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which announced the fish would be available at its locations across Japan.

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

From Auction to Plate

The extremely valuable tuna was promptly prepared for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants soon after the auction ended.

"I believe like I've begun the year in a auspicious way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," shared one elated diner.