Bluefin Tuna Commands Unprecedented Sum of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale

A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the calendar year.

The top offer for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs locations across the country and internationally.

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

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

Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent

Following the auction, the successful bidder told journalists that he was "astonished at the final price," stating, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."

This new acquisition tops his own record purchases:

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

Even after once remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to break his own record once again.

A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids

The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally known for exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which indicated the fish would be served at its eateries nationwide.

The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception.

Swift Service

The record-priced tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments soon after the auction was finished.

"I believe like I've commenced the year in a good way after consuming something so auspicious as the year begins," said one satisfied patron.