Bluefin Fish Sells for Unprecedented Price of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction

A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the new year.

The successful offer for the 535-pound fish was placed by the operator of a popular sushi restaurant group, which manages locations domestically and overseas.

"The first tuna heralds a prosperous start," commented the entrepreneur, a familiar figure at the yearly first sale.

Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is noted for making substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.

Bidding Shock and Historic Past

Following the auction, the successful bidder informed the press that he was "surprised at the winning bid," noting, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price escalated before you knew it."

This most recent purchase exceeds his own notable purchases:

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

Even after once remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to break his personal record once again.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally known for exceptionally high prices. Last year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its locations across Japan.

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

From Auction to Plate

The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly processed for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments shortly after the auction ended.

"I sense like I've begun the year in a good way after tasting something so lucky as the year begins," shared one satisfied diner.