Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fetches Record Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale

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

The winning offer for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which manages restaurants across the country and abroad.

"The first tuna heralds fortune," remarked the entrepreneur, a notable figure at the traditional new year's auction.

Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is famous for placing high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.

Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent

Following the auction, the winner told journalists that he was "astonished at the amount," adding, "I had thought we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."

This most recent purchase surpasses his previous record purchases:

• He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
• He paid 155 million yen in 2013.
• In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).

Despite once saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to shatter his own record another time.

A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids

The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with exorbitant prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants across Japan.

The intense activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a major 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 processed for patrons at the winner's sushi chains immediately after the auction ended.

"I feel like I've started the year in a auspicious way after eating something so lucky as the year gets underway," shared one elated diner.