Bluefin Tuna Commands Record Sum of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo Auction

A substantial bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the new year.

The successful offer for the 243kg fish came from the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs locations throughout Japan and overseas.

"An inaugural tuna heralds good luck," commented the company president, a familiar participant at the yearly January sale.

Referred to as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for making substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.

Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Past

Following the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "astonished at the winning bid," noting, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."

This most recent purchase exceeds his own record purchases:

• He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
• He spent 155 million yen the following year.
• In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).

Even after once remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to surpass his own record yet again.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically known for exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another food company, which stated the fish would be featured at its eateries across Japan.

The frenetic activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.

Immediate Consumption

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

"I sense like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," remarked one elated diner.