Bluefin Fish Sells for Unprecedented Bid of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale

A massive bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the calendar year.

The successful bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which operates outlets throughout Japan and abroad.

"The year's tuna heralds fortune," commented the business owner, a familiar participant at the traditional January sale.

Dubbed the Tuna King, this businessman is renowned for making high bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.

Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Past

Following the auction, the winner told the press that he was "surprised at the amount," stating, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price escalated rapidly."

This latest acquisition tops his own record purchases:

• He secured a tuna for 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 ($2.1m).

Even after previously commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his own record yet again.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which stated the fish would be available at its locations throughout the country.

The intense energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception.

Swift Service

The extremely valuable tuna was promptly processed for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction was finished.

"I feel like I've started the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," remarked one elated diner.