🔗 Share this article Bluefin Tuna Fetches Record Sum of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale The winning bidder is a well-known participant at the traditional bidding war. A massive Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the calendar year. The winning bid for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a popular sushi chain, which manages locations across the country and internationally. "The first tuna brings a prosperous start," remarked the company president, a regular bidder at the yearly first sale. Known as the Tuna King, this industry figure is famous for submitting substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions. Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "astonished at the final price," stating, "I had thought we would be able to acquire it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated in no time." This latest acquisition exceeds his previous historic purchases: He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen the following year. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m). Even after previously commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to break his personal record once again. An Annual Spectacle of High Prices The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be available at its locations throughout the country. The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. From Auction to Plate The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction ended. "I feel like I've begun the year in a positive way after tasting something so lucky as the year begins," remarked one satisfied diner.
The winning bidder is a well-known participant at the traditional bidding war. A massive Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the calendar year. The winning bid for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a popular sushi chain, which manages locations across the country and internationally. "The first tuna brings a prosperous start," remarked the company president, a regular bidder at the yearly first sale. Known as the Tuna King, this industry figure is famous for submitting substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions. Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "astonished at the final price," stating, "I had thought we would be able to acquire it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated in no time." This latest acquisition exceeds his previous historic purchases: He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen the following year. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m). Even after previously commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to break his personal record once again. An Annual Spectacle of High Prices The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be available at its locations throughout the country. The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. From Auction to Plate The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction ended. "I feel like I've begun the year in a positive way after tasting something so lucky as the year begins," remarked one satisfied diner.