🔗 Share this article Pacific Bluefin Fish Fetches Unprecedented Sum of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo Auction The winning bidder is a regular participant at the yearly event. A substantial bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the calendar year. The successful offer for the 243kg fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi chain, which manages locations throughout Japan and internationally. "An inaugural tuna brings fortune," remarked the business owner, a regular figure at the traditional new year's auction. Referred to as the Tuna King, this entrepreneur is famous for making record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions. Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent After the auction, the winner admitted to journalists that he was "taken aback at the final price," noting, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price escalated before you knew it." This new acquisition tops his own historic purchases: He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He spent 155 million yen the following year. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m). Despite once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to shatter his own record yet again. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally associated with exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its restaurants across Japan. The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different. From Auction to Plate The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for patrons at the winner's sushi establishments soon after the auction concluded. "I believe like I've started the year in a positive way after consuming something so lucky as the year gets underway," shared one elated diner.
The winning bidder is a regular participant at the yearly event. A substantial bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the calendar year. The successful offer for the 243kg fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi chain, which manages locations throughout Japan and internationally. "An inaugural tuna brings fortune," remarked the business owner, a regular figure at the traditional new year's auction. Referred to as the Tuna King, this entrepreneur is famous for making record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions. Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent After the auction, the winner admitted to journalists that he was "taken aback at the final price," noting, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price escalated before you knew it." This new acquisition tops his own historic purchases: He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He spent 155 million yen the following year. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m). Despite once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to shatter his own record yet again. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally associated with exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be featured at its restaurants across Japan. The intense activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different. From Auction to Plate The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for patrons at the winner's sushi establishments soon after the auction concluded. "I believe like I've started the year in a positive way after consuming something so lucky as the year gets underway," shared one elated diner.