🔗 Share this article Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fetches Record Price of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale A familiar auction figure is a well-known participant at the annual bidding war. A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the new year. The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish came from the parent firm of a popular sushi chain, which runs outlets throughout Japan and overseas. "The first tuna heralds fortune," stated the business owner, a familiar bidder at the traditional January sale. Referred to as the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for placing high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions. Auction Shock and Historic Precedent After the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "surprised at the final price," noting, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price escalated rapidly." This new acquisition tops his own historic 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 ($2.1 million). Despite once commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his own record once again. An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with exceptionally high prices. Last year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which indicated the fish would be featured at its locations throughout the country. The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception. From Auction to Plate The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly processed for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction concluded. "I believe like I've begun the year in a positive way after tasting something so auspicious as the year starts," remarked one satisfied customer.
A familiar auction figure is a well-known participant at the annual bidding war. A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the new year. The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish came from the parent firm of a popular sushi chain, which runs outlets throughout Japan and overseas. "The first tuna heralds fortune," stated the business owner, a familiar bidder at the traditional January sale. Referred to as the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for placing high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions. Auction Shock and Historic Precedent After the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "surprised at the final price," noting, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price escalated rapidly." This new acquisition tops his own historic 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 ($2.1 million). Despite once commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his own record once again. An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with exceptionally high prices. Last year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which indicated the fish would be featured at its locations throughout the country. The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception. From Auction to Plate The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly processed for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction concluded. "I believe like I've begun the year in a positive way after tasting something so auspicious as the year starts," remarked one satisfied customer.