Bluefin Tuna Sells for Record Price of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale

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

The winning offer for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the company of a popular sushi restaurant group, which operates restaurants across the country and abroad.

"The first tuna brings a prosperous start," remarked the entrepreneur, a regular bidder at the traditional January sale.

Known as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is famous for submitting record bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.

Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent

Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "astonished at the winning bid," stating, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price escalated rapidly."

This most recent acquisition tops his own historic purchases:

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

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

A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids

The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be available at its locations throughout the country.

The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.

Immediate Consumption

The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for customers at the bidder's sushi chains soon after the auction ended.

"I believe like I've begun the year in a positive way after tasting something so auspicious as the year gets underway," shared one happy customer.