Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Price of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale

A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the new year.

The successful bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the parent firm of a well-known sushi chain, which manages locations throughout Japan and overseas.

"The first tuna signals fortune," remarked the entrepreneur, a notable participant at the traditional new year's auction.

Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is renowned for placing high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.

Bidding Shock and Historic Precedent

After the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "surprised at the winning bid," stating, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price escalated before you knew it."

This most recent purchase tops his previous notable purchases:

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

Despite previously commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to surpass his personal record yet again.

An Annual Spectacle of High Prices

The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously known for exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be available at its eateries across Japan.

The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.

From Auction to Plate

The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly processed for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction was finished.

"I feel like I've commenced the year in a good way after consuming something so auspicious as the year begins," shared one satisfied customer.