Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Price of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale

A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's 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 opening auction of the year.

The winning bid for the 535-pound fish came from the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which operates restaurants across the country and abroad.

"The year's tuna heralds a prosperous start," stated the entrepreneur, a notable bidder at the traditional January sale.

Known as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.

Auction Shock and Historic Precedent

After the auction, the winner admitted to reporters that he was "surprised at the amount," noting, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price soared rapidly."

This most recent acquisition surpasses his previous record purchases:

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

Even after previously commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now proceeded to shatter his own record once again.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally associated with exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different food company, which indicated the fish would be available at its eateries nationwide.

The frenetic activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has evolved into a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.

Swift Service

The record-priced tuna was promptly sliced up for patrons at the winner's sushi chains soon after the auction ended.

"I sense like I've started the year in a good way after consuming something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one satisfied patron.