Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Price of $3.2 million at Tokyo Auction

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

The top offer for the 243kg fish was submitted by the operator of a well-known sushi chain, which runs outlets domestically and overseas.

"The first tuna brings a prosperous start," commented the entrepreneur, a familiar participant at the annual first sale.

Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is famous for submitting high bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.

Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent

Following the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "taken aback at the amount," adding, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed in no time."

This most recent purchase surpasses his previous notable purchases:

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

Even after previously saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to break his own record another time.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically associated with exorbitant prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which announced the fish would be served at its eateries across Japan.

The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.

Swift Service

The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly processed for patrons at the bidder's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction was finished.

"I sense like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after tasting something so lucky as the year starts," shared one elated diner.