Pacific Bluefin Tuna Commands Historic Bid of $3.2m at Japanese Capital Auction

A massive Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the year.

The successful offer for the 243kg fish came from the operator of a nationwide sushi chain, which runs locations domestically and overseas.

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

Dubbed the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for placing high bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.

Bidding Shock and Historic Precedent

Following the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "surprised at the final price," adding, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it."

This latest acquisition exceeds his previous notable purchases:

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

Even after once commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to shatter his personal record yet again.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is notoriously associated with exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which indicated the fish would be served at its locations throughout the country.

The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.

Swift Service

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

"I believe like I've started the year in a positive way after consuming something so lucky as the year begins," remarked one happy diner.