Pacific Bluefin Fish Sells for Unprecedented Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction

A massive Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the new year.

The top bid for the 243kg fish was placed by the parent firm of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which manages outlets across the country and internationally.

"The year's tuna heralds a prosperous start," stated the business owner, a regular figure at the traditional first sale.

Dubbed the King of Tuna, this businessman is famous for submitting record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.

Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent

After the auction, the winner informed reporters that he was "taken aback at the final price," noting, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed rapidly."

This most recent acquisition tops his own historic 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).

Even after previously remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to break his personal record yet again.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically characterized by exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be available at its locations nationwide.

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

Immediate Consumption

The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for patrons at the bidder's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction concluded.

"I feel like I've commenced the year in a good way after consuming something so auspicious as the year begins," shared one elated customer.