Bluefin Fish Commands Historic Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale

A bulky bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the new year.

The winning offer for the 243-kilogram fish came from the operator of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets throughout Japan and abroad.

"An inaugural tuna brings fortune," remarked the company president, a notable figure at the annual January sale.

Dubbed the King of Tuna, this businessman is noted for making high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions.

Bidding Surprise and Historic Precedent

After the auction, the successful bidder told reporters that he was "astonished at the amount," noting, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price escalated before you knew it."

This new purchase surpasses his previous record purchases:

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

Even after previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to shatter his own record yet again.

A Tradition of High Prices

The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically characterized by exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which announced the fish would be available at its restaurants across Japan.

The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.

From Auction to Plate

The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for patrons at the bidder's sushi chains immediately after the auction was finished.

"I feel like I've commenced the year in a good way after tasting something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one happy patron.