Pacific Bluefin Tuna Commands Historic Bid of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction

A massive bluefin tuna created waves 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 market's first auction of the calendar year.

The successful offer for the 243kg fish came from the operator of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which operates outlets throughout Japan and internationally.

"An inaugural tuna brings good luck," commented the entrepreneur, a familiar participant at the traditional new year's auction.

Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is famous for placing record bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.

Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent

After the auction, the winner informed reporters that he was "surprised at the winning bid," adding, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price escalated in no time."

This latest purchase surpasses his own record purchases:

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

Despite previously saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to break his personal record once again.

A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids

The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously characterized by exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its locations across Japan.

The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception.

From Auction to Plate

The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction ended.

"I sense like I've started the year in a good way after consuming something so auspicious as the year starts," remarked one elated diner.