Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Sum of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital Auction

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

The winning bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which manages locations across the country and overseas.

"The first tuna brings good luck," commented the business owner, a regular figure at the traditional new year's auction.

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

Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Past

After the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "astonished at the winning bid," adding, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price escalated rapidly."

This latest purchase surpasses his previous record purchases:

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

Despite once saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to surpass his personal record once again.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically characterized by sky-high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants nationwide.

The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has transformed into a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.

Immediate Consumption

The record-priced tuna was promptly sliced up for customers at the winner's sushi establishments shortly after the auction ended.

"I feel like I've started the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," said one satisfied patron.