Pacific Bluefin Tuna Commands Historic Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction

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

The winning offer for the 243kg fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi chain, which manages locations domestically and abroad.

"An inaugural tuna signals fortune," stated the company president, a notable figure at the annual new year's auction.

Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is famous for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.

Auction Surprise and Historic Precedent

After the auction, the winner admitted to journalists that he was "taken aback at the amount," adding, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated in no time."

This most recent purchase surpasses his own notable purchases:

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

Despite once saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to surpass his personal record another time.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The inaugural 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 food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its locations throughout the country.

The high-energy energy at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.

Swift Service

The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for customers at the winner's sushi establishments immediately after the auction was finished.

"I believe like I've commenced the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," said one satisfied patron.