🔗 Share this article Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Unprecedented Sum of $3.2m at Japanese Capital Auction The winning bidder is a regular participant at the traditional event. A massive Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year. The successful offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the operator of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets throughout Japan and overseas. "An inaugural tuna heralds a prosperous start," stated the business owner, a notable participant at the yearly new year's auction. Dubbed the Tuna King, this industry figure is noted for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions. Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent Following the auction, the winner admitted to journalists that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," noting, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time." This latest purchase exceeds his previous notable purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012. He spent 155 million yen in 2013. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m). Despite once remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to break his personal record yet again. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously known for exorbitant prices. The previous year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its eateries nationwide. The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. Immediate Consumption The extremely valuable tuna was promptly prepared for customers at the bidder's sushi restaurants soon after the auction was finished. "I sense like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after eating something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one happy diner.
The winning bidder is a regular participant at the traditional event. A massive Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year. The successful offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the operator of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets throughout Japan and overseas. "An inaugural tuna heralds a prosperous start," stated the business owner, a notable participant at the yearly new year's auction. Dubbed the Tuna King, this industry figure is noted for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions. Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent Following the auction, the winner admitted to journalists that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," noting, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time." This latest purchase exceeds his previous notable purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012. He spent 155 million yen in 2013. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m). Despite once remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to break his personal record yet again. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously known for exorbitant prices. The previous year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its eateries nationwide. The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. Immediate Consumption The extremely valuable tuna was promptly prepared for customers at the bidder's sushi restaurants soon after the auction was finished. "I sense like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after eating something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one happy diner.