🔗 Share this article Pacific Bluefin Fish Sells for Historic Sum of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo Auction A familiar auction figure is a regular participant at the yearly event. A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the new year. The winning offer for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the company of a popular sushi chain, which manages outlets across the country and internationally. "An inaugural tuna heralds fortune," stated the business owner, a notable participant at the annual January sale. Known as the Tuna King, this industry figure is famous for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions. Auction Shock and Historic Past After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to journalists that he was "astonished at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price soared rapidly." This most recent acquisition exceeds his previous record purchases: He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012. He paid 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m). Despite once saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to break his personal record once again. An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally associated with exceptionally high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which announced the fish would be available at its locations across Japan. The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different. From Auction to Plate The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for customers at the bidder's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction ended. "I feel like I've started the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," said one elated diner.
A familiar auction figure is a regular participant at the yearly event. A substantial Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the new year. The winning offer for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the company of a popular sushi chain, which manages outlets across the country and internationally. "An inaugural tuna heralds fortune," stated the business owner, a notable participant at the annual January sale. Known as the Tuna King, this industry figure is famous for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions. Auction Shock and Historic Past After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to journalists that he was "astonished at the amount," noting, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price soared rapidly." This most recent acquisition exceeds his previous record purchases: He paid 56.5 million yen away in 2012. He paid 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m). Despite once saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to break his personal record once again. An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally associated with exceptionally high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which announced the fish would be available at its locations across Japan. The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no different. From Auction to Plate The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for customers at the bidder's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction ended. "I feel like I've started the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," said one elated diner.