Bluefin Tuna Commands Record Sum of $3.2 million at Tokyo Auction

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

The top bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the operator of a popular sushi restaurant group, which manages locations domestically and internationally.

"An inaugural tuna signals good luck," remarked the business owner, a familiar bidder at the traditional new year's auction.

Referred to as the Tuna King, this industry figure is famous for submitting record bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.

Auction Shock and Historic Past

Following the auction, the winner admitted to reporters that he was "astonished at the final price," noting, "I expected 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 record purchases:

• He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
• He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
• In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).

Despite once commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to shatter his personal record once again.

An Annual Spectacle of High Prices

The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally characterized by exceptionally high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different food company, which stated the fish would be featured at its eateries throughout the country.

The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a must-see event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception.

From Auction to Plate

The record-priced tuna was promptly sliced up for patrons at the bidder's sushi chains immediately after the auction concluded.

"I feel like I've commenced the year in a good way after tasting something so lucky as the year starts," shared one elated customer.