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

A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the year.

The top offer for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which runs restaurants domestically and abroad.

"An inaugural tuna signals a prosperous start," remarked the business owner, a familiar bidder at the annual January sale.

Referred to as the King of Tuna, this businessman is renowned for placing record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.

Bidding Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent

After the auction, the successful bidder told reporters that he was "surprised at the final price," noting, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price escalated rapidly."

This new acquisition exceeds his previous record purchases:

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

Despite previously remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to shatter his own record another time.

A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids

The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally known for sky-high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a separate food company, which stated the fish would be available at its locations across Japan.

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

From Auction to Plate

The record-priced tuna was quickly processed for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi chains shortly after the auction ended.

"I feel like I've started the year in a positive way after consuming something so auspicious as the year begins," said one happy customer.