Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Bid of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale

A massive bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the calendar year.

The successful bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the operator of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which operates locations throughout Japan and overseas.

"The year's tuna brings fortune," commented the entrepreneur, a regular figure at the yearly first sale.

Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is renowned for placing record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions.

Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Past

Following the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "astonished at the winning bid," adding, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed in no time."

This latest purchase exceeds his own notable purchases:

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

Even after previously commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to break his own record another time.

A Tradition of High Prices

The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally associated with sky-high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which stated the fish would be featured at its locations across Japan.

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

From Auction to Plate

The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly processed for diners at the winner's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction concluded.

"I believe like I've started the year in a positive way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," shared one happy diner.