Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Price of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale

A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the new year.

The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the company of a popular sushi chain, which manages locations domestically and internationally.

"The year's tuna heralds fortune," remarked the entrepreneur, a familiar bidder at the traditional January sale.

Referred to as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.

Auction Shock and Record-Setting Past

Following the auction, the winner admitted to the press that he was "surprised at the winning bid," noting, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared before you knew it."

This new purchase exceeds his previous record purchases:

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

Despite previously commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to break his personal record another time.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously known for exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its locations across Japan.

The intense energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has evolved into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.

Swift Service

The extremely valuable tuna was quickly processed for patrons at the winner's sushi chains soon after the auction was finished.

"I believe like I've commenced the year in a positive way after tasting something so auspicious as the year begins," said one happy patron.