Pacific Bluefin Tuna Commands Record Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo Auction

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

The winning bid for the 243kg fish came from the parent firm of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets domestically and overseas.

"The first tuna heralds good luck," stated the company president, a regular bidder at the annual new year's auction.

Referred to as the King of Tuna, this businessman is noted for making substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions.

Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Past

After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "surprised at the final price," noting, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price soared before you knew it."

This most recent acquisition surpasses his own notable purchases:

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

Even after once commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now proceeded to shatter his own record once again.

A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids

The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically characterized by exorbitant prices. Last year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another food company, which stated the fish would be served at its restaurants nationwide.

The frenetic energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a must-see spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.

Immediate Consumption

The extremely valuable tuna was quickly processed for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants soon after the auction was finished.

"I feel like I've started the year in a positive way after eating something so lucky as the year gets underway," shared one happy customer.