Pacific Bluefin Fish Sells for Historic Bid of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale

A bulky bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the calendar year.

The successful offer for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the company of a nationwide sushi chain, which runs restaurants across the country and overseas.

"The year's tuna brings fortune," stated the entrepreneur, a regular participant at the annual January sale.

Known as the Tuna King, this industry figure is famous for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.

Bidding Surprise and Historic Precedent

Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "surprised at the winning bid," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."

This latest purchase exceeds his own record purchases:

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

Despite once commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to shatter his own record another time.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which announced the fish would be served at its eateries throughout the country.

The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.

From Auction to Plate

The record-priced tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for diners at the bidder's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction was finished.

"I feel like I've started the year in a positive way after consuming something so auspicious as the year begins," said one happy patron.