🔗 Share this article Pacific Bluefin Fish Fetches Record Sum of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital Auction A familiar auction figure is a regular presence at the annual event. A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the year. The winning offer for the 535-pound fish was placed by the operator of a popular sushi restaurant group, which manages restaurants across the country and abroad. "The first tuna heralds a prosperous start," stated the company president, a familiar bidder at the traditional new year's auction. Known as the Tuna King, this businessman is famous for submitting high bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions. Bidding Shock and Historic Past Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "taken aback at the amount," adding, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time." This new acquisition tops his own historic purchases: He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen in 2013. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Despite previously saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to break his own record yet again. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally characterized by exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants throughout the country. The frenetic energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different. From Auction to Plate The extremely valuable tuna was quickly prepared for patrons at the bidder's sushi establishments shortly 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 gets underway," said one elated diner.
A familiar auction figure is a regular presence at the annual event. A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the year. The winning offer for the 535-pound fish was placed by the operator of a popular sushi restaurant group, which manages restaurants across the country and abroad. "The first tuna heralds a prosperous start," stated the company president, a familiar bidder at the traditional new year's auction. Known as the Tuna King, this businessman is famous for submitting high bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions. Bidding Shock and Historic Past Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "taken aback at the amount," adding, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time." This new acquisition tops his own historic purchases: He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen in 2013. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Despite previously saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to break his own record yet again. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally characterized by exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants throughout the country. The frenetic energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different. From Auction to Plate The extremely valuable tuna was quickly prepared for patrons at the bidder's sushi establishments shortly 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 gets underway," said one elated diner.