Bluefin Tuna Fetches Unprecedented Bid of $3.2m at Japanese Capital Auction

A massive bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year.

The successful bid for the 243-kilogram fish came from the operator of a well-known sushi chain, which runs locations throughout Japan and overseas.

"The year's tuna brings good luck," remarked the entrepreneur, a regular bidder at the annual first sale.

Referred to as the King of Tuna, this industry figure is famous for submitting record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions.

Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent

Following the auction, the winner told the press that he was "taken aback at the final price," adding, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed in no time."

This most recent purchase tops 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 ($2.1m).

Even after once remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to surpass his own record once again.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with exceptionally high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants throughout the country.

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

Immediate Consumption

The multi-million-dollar tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for diners at the bidder's sushi chains shortly after the auction concluded.

"I believe like I've begun the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so lucky as the year starts," remarked one happy diner.