🔗 Share this article Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Price of $3.2m at Japanese Capital Auction The winning bidder is a prominent presence at the annual sale. A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the new year. The winning offer for the 535-pound fish was placed by the parent firm of a nationwide sushi chain, which runs outlets across the country and internationally. "The first tuna brings good luck," remarked the business owner, a familiar bidder at the traditional first sale. Referred to as the Tuna King, this industry figure is renowned for placing high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions. Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Past Following the auction, the successful bidder informed reporters that he was "surprised at the final price," noting, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared before you knew it." This most recent purchase exceeds his previous notable purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen the following year. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Even after once commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to shatter his own record yet again. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously characterized by exorbitant prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants throughout the country. The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. Swift Service The record-priced tuna was quickly sliced up for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants soon after the auction ended. "I believe like I've commenced the year in a positive way after tasting something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one elated patron.
The winning bidder is a prominent presence at the annual sale. A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the new year. The winning offer for the 535-pound fish was placed by the parent firm of a nationwide sushi chain, which runs outlets across the country and internationally. "The first tuna brings good luck," remarked the business owner, a familiar bidder at the traditional first sale. Referred to as the Tuna King, this industry figure is renowned for placing high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions. Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Past Following the auction, the successful bidder informed reporters that he was "surprised at the final price," noting, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared before you knew it." This most recent purchase exceeds his previous notable purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen the following year. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Even after once commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to shatter his own record yet again. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously characterized by exorbitant prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants throughout the country. The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. Swift Service The record-priced tuna was quickly sliced up for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants soon after the auction ended. "I believe like I've commenced the year in a positive way after tasting something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one elated patron.