Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital New Year Sale

A substantial bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year.

The winning bid for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which operates locations across the country and internationally.

"The first tuna signals fortune," commented the company president, a regular bidder at the annual new year's auction.

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

Auction Shock and Historic Precedent

After the auction, the winner admitted to reporters that he was "astonished at the final price," adding, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it."

This latest acquisition tops his previous record purchases:

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

Despite once remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to surpass his own record another time.

A Tradition of High Prices

The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically known for sky-high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be served at its eateries nationwide.

The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.

Immediate Consumption

The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly sliced up for patrons at the bidder's sushi chains soon after the auction concluded.

"I believe like I've begun the year in a positive way after eating something so auspicious as the year begins," shared one satisfied diner.