Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Sum of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale

A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the new year.

The winning offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the operator of a well-known sushi chain, which operates locations across the country and internationally.

"An inaugural tuna brings good luck," remarked the company president, a regular figure at the annual new year's auction.

Referred to as the King of Tuna, this industry figure is famous for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.

Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent

After the auction, the winner told journalists that he was "astonished at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed in no time."

This latest purchase exceeds his own record purchases:

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

Despite once commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to break his own record yet again.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously known for exorbitant prices. Last year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which announced the fish would be available at its restaurants throughout the country.

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

Immediate Consumption

The extremely valuable tuna was quickly processed for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi chains immediately after the auction was finished.

"I feel like I've started the year in a good way after tasting something so auspicious as the year starts," remarked one elated customer.