Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Unprecedented Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale

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

The winning offer for the 535-pound fish was placed by the company of a nationwide sushi chain, which operates outlets across the country and abroad.

"The year's tuna heralds fortune," commented the company president, a familiar participant at the annual first sale.

Referred to as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for making high bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions.

Bidding Surprise and Historic Past

Following the auction, the winner told reporters that he was "surprised at the final price," stating, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price escalated before you knew it."

This most recent acquisition surpasses his own record purchases:

• He paid 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 ($2.1m).

Despite previously saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to break his own record another time.

A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids

The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally known for exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be available at its locations across Japan.

The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.

From Auction to Plate

The record-priced tuna was quickly prepared for customers at the bidder's sushi restaurants soon after the auction was finished.

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