🔗 Share this article Bluefin Tuna Sells for Record Sum of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale A familiar auction figure is a prominent presence at the yearly bidding war. A massive Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year. The top offer for the 243-kilogram fish came from the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which runs locations across the country and internationally. "The first tuna brings a prosperous start," commented the entrepreneur, a notable participant at the traditional January sale. Known as the King of Tuna, this businessman is renowned for making substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic January auctions. Bidding Surprise and Historic Past After the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "astonished at the final price," noting, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it." This new purchase tops his previous historic purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He spent 155 million yen the following year. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million). Even after previously saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to break his own record yet again. An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously known for exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which stated the fish would be available at its restaurants across Japan. The frenetic activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a must-see event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception. Immediate Consumption The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter processed for diners at the winner's sushi restaurants soon after the auction was finished. "I believe like I've commenced the year in a good way after eating something so auspicious as the year starts," shared one happy customer.
A familiar auction figure is a prominent presence at the yearly bidding war. A massive Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year. The top offer for the 243-kilogram fish came from the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which runs locations across the country and internationally. "The first tuna brings a prosperous start," commented the entrepreneur, a notable participant at the traditional January sale. Known as the King of Tuna, this businessman is renowned for making substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic January auctions. Bidding Surprise and Historic Past After the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "astonished at the final price," noting, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it." This new purchase tops his previous historic purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He spent 155 million yen the following year. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million). Even after previously saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to break his own record yet again. An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously known for exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which stated the fish would be available at its restaurants across Japan. The frenetic activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a must-see event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception. Immediate Consumption The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter processed for diners at the winner's sushi restaurants soon after the auction was finished. "I believe like I've commenced the year in a good way after eating something so auspicious as the year starts," shared one happy customer.