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

A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the year.

The successful bid for the 243-kilogram fish came from the company of a nationwide sushi chain, which manages restaurants domestically and abroad.

"The first tuna signals fortune," stated the entrepreneur, a familiar figure at the annual first sale.

Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is famous for making high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.

Bidding Surprise and Historic Precedent

After the auction, the winner told the press that he was "surprised at the amount," adding, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed in no time."

This latest acquisition exceeds his own record purchases:

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

Even after previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his own record once again.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously known for sky-high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which stated the fish would be served at its locations nationwide.

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

Immediate Consumption

The record-priced tuna was promptly processed for patrons at the winner's sushi establishments immediately after the auction was finished.

"I believe like I've begun the year in a positive way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," shared one happy diner.