🔗 Share this article Bluefin Fish Fetches Record Sum of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital Auction The 'Tuna King' is a well-known face at the traditional event. A massive Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year. The winning offer for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the company of a popular sushi chain, which runs restaurants throughout Japan and internationally. "The first tuna brings fortune," stated the company president, a regular bidder at the traditional new year's auction. Known as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is renowned for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions. Auction Surprise and Historic Past After the auction, the successful bidder told reporters that he was "astonished at the winning bid," adding, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price escalated before you knew it." This new purchase exceeds his previous notable purchases: He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen in 2013. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million). Despite once saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to surpass his personal record another time. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically known for exorbitant prices. Last year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which indicated the fish would be available at its locations across Japan. The intense atmosphere 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 equally bustling. Immediate Consumption The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly sliced up for patrons at the winner's sushi chains immediately after the auction concluded. "I believe like I've begun the year in a good way after consuming something so lucky as the year begins," said one satisfied patron.
The 'Tuna King' is a well-known face at the traditional event. A massive Pacific bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year. The winning offer for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the company of a popular sushi chain, which runs restaurants throughout Japan and internationally. "The first tuna brings fortune," stated the company president, a regular bidder at the traditional new year's auction. Known as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is renowned for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious January auctions. Auction Surprise and Historic Past After the auction, the successful bidder told reporters that he was "astonished at the winning bid," adding, "I expected we would be able to acquire it a little for less, but the price escalated before you knew it." This new purchase exceeds his previous notable purchases: He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen in 2013. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million). Despite once saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now gone on to surpass his personal record another time. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically known for exorbitant prices. Last year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which indicated the fish would be available at its locations across Japan. The intense atmosphere 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 equally bustling. Immediate Consumption The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly sliced up for patrons at the winner's sushi chains immediately after the auction concluded. "I believe like I've begun the year in a good way after consuming something so lucky as the year begins," said one satisfied patron.