Bluefin Fish Fetches Historic Bid of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital Auction

A massive Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the new year.

The top offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the operator of a popular sushi restaurant group, which runs locations throughout Japan and internationally.

"The year's tuna heralds fortune," stated the entrepreneur, a regular bidder at the yearly new year's auction.

Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is famous for placing high bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions.

Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Past

After the auction, the winner admitted to reporters that he was "astonished at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed rapidly."

This latest acquisition tops his own notable purchases:

• He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
• He bid 155 million yen in 2013.
• In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).

Even after previously commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to break his personal record another time.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously characterized by exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be featured at its eateries nationwide.

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

Swift Service

The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for diners at the winner's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction was finished.

"I sense like I've begun the year in a auspicious way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," said one satisfied customer.