Bluefin Fish Fetches Unprecedented Bid of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale

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

The top offer for the 243-kilogram fish came from the company of a popular sushi restaurant group, which manages outlets across the country and internationally.

"An inaugural tuna brings good luck," remarked the company president, a regular bidder at the annual new year's auction.

Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is famous for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.

Auction Shock and Historic Past

Following the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "astonished at the winning bid," stating, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated in no time."

This latest acquisition tops his own historic purchases:

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

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

An Annual Spectacle of High Prices

The opening auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally associated with sky-high prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be featured at its restaurants nationwide.

The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.

From Auction to Plate

The record-priced tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the bidder's sushi restaurants soon after the auction was finished.

"I believe like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so lucky as the year gets underway," shared one happy diner.