Bluefin Fish Commands Record Price of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital Auction

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

The winning offer for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi chain, which runs outlets across the country and internationally.

"The year's tuna signals good luck," remarked the company president, a notable figure at the annual first sale.

Referred to as the King of Tuna, this industry figure is renowned for submitting high bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions.

Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Past

Following the auction, the winner informed reporters that he was "astonished at the final price," stating, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price skyrocketed rapidly."

This latest purchase exceeds his previous record purchases:

• He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
• He spent 155 million yen the following year.
• In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).

Despite once commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to break his own record another time.

An Annual Spectacle of High Prices

The first auction at the Tokyo 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 culinary group, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants across Japan.

The high-energy activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.

Swift Service

The extremely valuable tuna was quickly prepared for patrons at the winner's sushi restaurants soon after the auction concluded.

"I sense like I've started the year in a good way after eating something so lucky as the year gets underway," remarked one satisfied patron.