Pacific Bluefin Fish Commands Record Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale

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

The top offer for the 535-pound fish was placed by the parent firm of a nationwide sushi chain, which runs restaurants domestically and internationally.

"The year's tuna heralds good luck," remarked the company president, a familiar figure at the annual new year's auction.

Referred to as the Tuna King, this businessman is noted for making substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.

Auction Shock and Record-Setting Past

Following the auction, the successful bidder informed journalists that he was "taken aback at the amount," adding, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed in no time."

This latest purchase exceeds his own notable purchases:

• He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
• He bid 155 million yen the following year.
• In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).

Despite previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to surpass his personal record once again.

An Annual Spectacle of High Prices

The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally associated with sky-high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which stated the fish would be served at its restaurants throughout the country.

The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.

Swift Service

The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter processed for customers at the bidder's sushi establishments shortly after the auction ended.

"I feel like I've begun the year in a good way after tasting something so lucky as the year begins," remarked one elated diner.