Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fetches Record Price of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale

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

The winning offer for the 243kg fish was submitted by the parent firm of a popular sushi restaurant group, which manages restaurants domestically and abroad.

"The year's tuna heralds good luck," stated the business owner, a notable participant at the annual first sale.

Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is noted for placing high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.

Auction Shock and Historic Precedent

After the auction, the successful bidder told the press that he was "astonished at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price skyrocketed rapidly."

This most recent purchase tops his own record purchases:

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

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

A Tradition of High Prices

The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally known for sky-high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which indicated the fish would be served at its restaurants across Japan.

The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different.

From Auction to Plate

The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi establishments soon after the auction ended.

"I believe like I've started the year in a good way after consuming something so auspicious as the year starts," said one elated diner.