Bluefin Tuna Sells for Unprecedented Price of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital 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; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year.

The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the operator of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which manages locations throughout Japan and internationally.

"The year's tuna brings good luck," stated the entrepreneur, a familiar bidder at the annual first sale.

Known as the Tuna King, this businessman is famous for submitting high bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic January auctions.

Bidding Shock and Historic Past

Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to journalists that he was "surprised at the winning bid," noting, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared before you knew it."

This latest acquisition exceeds his previous record purchases:

• He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
• He paid 155 million yen in 2013.
• In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).

Despite once saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to shatter his own record another time.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously characterized by exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which announced the fish would be available at its eateries across Japan.

The high-energy activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different.

Swift Service

The extremely valuable tuna was quickly processed for patrons at the winner's sushi chains immediately after the auction concluded.

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