Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Price of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale

A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year.

The winning offer for the 535-pound fish came from the parent firm of a nationwide sushi chain, which manages outlets domestically and abroad.

"The year's tuna heralds fortune," commented the company president, a regular participant at the yearly first sale.

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

Bidding Surprise and Historic Past

After the auction, the winner admitted to the press that he was "taken aback at the amount," adding, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it."

This latest acquisition surpasses his previous historic purchases:

• He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
• He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
• In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million).

Despite once saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now proceeded to shatter his own record another time.

A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids

The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously characterized by sky-high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be featured at its restaurants across Japan.

The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.

Immediate Consumption

The extremely valuable tuna was promptly sliced up for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments shortly after the auction was finished.

"I sense like I've commenced the year in a positive way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," said one happy customer.