Bluefin Fish Sells for Unprecedented Bid of $3.2 million at Tokyo New Year Sale

A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, securing a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the new year.

The winning offer for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the operator of a well-known sushi chain, which runs restaurants across the country and internationally.

"The first tuna brings good luck," remarked the business owner, a regular participant at the traditional first sale.

Referred to as the King of Tuna, this industry figure is renowned for making substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions.

Auction Surprise and Historic Precedent

After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "taken aback 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 most recent acquisition tops his own historic purchases:

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

Despite once saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to shatter his own record another time.

A Tradition of High Prices

The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally characterized by sky-high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a different food company, which announced the fish would be available at its locations nationwide.

The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a must-see event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no exception.

Immediate Consumption

The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction was finished.

"I believe like I've started the year in a good way after tasting something so lucky as the year starts," said one elated customer.