🔗 Share this article Bluefin Fish Commands Unprecedented Price of $3.2m at Japanese Capital Auction The winning bidder is a well-known face at the yearly event. A substantial bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the new year. The winning bid for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the operator of a well-known sushi chain, which runs outlets domestically and internationally. "The first tuna signals good luck," remarked the business owner, a notable figure at the traditional January sale. Known as the King of Tuna, this businessman is noted for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions. Bidding Shock and Historic Past After the auction, the winner told reporters that he was "astonished at the amount," adding, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared before you knew it." This new purchase surpasses his previous notable purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Despite previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to shatter his own record another time. An Annual Spectacle of High Prices The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously known for exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which indicated the fish would be served at its restaurants nationwide. The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception. Swift Service The extremely valuable tuna was promptly sliced up for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants soon after the auction was finished. "I sense like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so lucky as the year begins," remarked one satisfied patron.
The winning bidder is a well-known face at the yearly event. A substantial bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the new year. The winning bid for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the operator of a well-known sushi chain, which runs outlets domestically and internationally. "The first tuna signals good luck," remarked the business owner, a notable figure at the traditional January sale. Known as the King of Tuna, this businessman is noted for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions. Bidding Shock and Historic Past After the auction, the winner told reporters that he was "astonished at the amount," adding, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared before you knew it." This new purchase surpasses his previous notable purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Despite previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to shatter his own record another time. An Annual Spectacle of High Prices The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously known for exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which indicated the fish would be served at its restaurants nationwide. The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception. Swift Service The extremely valuable tuna was promptly sliced up for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants soon after the auction was finished. "I sense like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so lucky as the year begins," remarked one satisfied patron.