🔗 Share this article Pacific Bluefin Fish Commands Record Sum of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale The winning bidder is a well-known participant at the yearly event. A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the calendar year. The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the company of a well-known sushi chain, which operates restaurants domestically and overseas. "The first tuna brings good luck," commented the business owner, a notable participant at the traditional first sale. Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is famous for placing high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions. Auction Surprise and Historic Precedent After the auction, the winner told journalists that he was "taken aback at the amount," stating, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed rapidly." This most recent purchase tops his previous record purchases: He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He spent 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Despite once saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to break his own record another time. An Annual Spectacle of High Prices The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with exorbitant prices. Last year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which stated the fish would be served at its restaurants throughout the country. The high-energy energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a major spectacle 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 patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction concluded. "I sense like I've commenced the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," remarked one happy patron.
The winning bidder is a well-known participant at the yearly event. A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the calendar year. The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the company of a well-known sushi chain, which operates restaurants domestically and overseas. "The first tuna brings good luck," commented the business owner, a notable participant at the traditional first sale. Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is famous for placing high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions. Auction Surprise and Historic Precedent After the auction, the winner told journalists that he was "taken aback at the amount," stating, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed rapidly." This most recent purchase tops his previous record purchases: He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He spent 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Despite once saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to break his own record another time. An Annual Spectacle of High Prices The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically associated with exorbitant prices. Last year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which stated the fish would be served at its restaurants throughout the country. The high-energy energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a major spectacle 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 patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction concluded. "I sense like I've commenced the year in a positive way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," remarked one happy patron.