🔗 Share this article Pacific Bluefin Fish Commands Unprecedented Sum of $3.2m at Japanese Capital Auction The winning bidder is a well-known face at the annual event. A massive Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the new year. The top offer for the 535-pound fish came from the company of a nationwide sushi chain, which operates locations across the country and overseas. "The first tuna signals fortune," remarked the company president, a notable figure at the traditional January sale. Dubbed the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions. Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent Following the auction, the successful bidder informed journalists that he was "astonished at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it." This most recent acquisition surpasses his own record purchases: He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen the following year. In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Even after once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to break his personal record once again. A Tradition of High Prices The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally known for exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants nationwide. The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. Immediate Consumption The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly prepared for customers at the winner's sushi chains soon after the auction concluded. "I believe like I've begun the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," said one elated patron.
The winning bidder is a well-known face at the annual event. A massive Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the new year. The top offer for the 535-pound fish came from the company of a nationwide sushi chain, which operates locations across the country and overseas. "The first tuna signals fortune," remarked the company president, a notable figure at the traditional January sale. Dubbed the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions. Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent Following the auction, the successful bidder informed journalists that he was "astonished at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it." This most recent acquisition surpasses his own record purchases: He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen the following year. In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Even after once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to break his personal record once again. A Tradition of High Prices The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally known for exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants nationwide. The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. Immediate Consumption The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly prepared for customers at the winner's sushi chains soon after the auction concluded. "I believe like I've begun the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," said one elated patron.