🔗 Share this article Bluefin Tuna Commands Historic Price of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale A familiar auction figure is a prominent participant at the annual bidding war. 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 US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the year. The successful bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which manages restaurants across the country and overseas. "An inaugural tuna brings fortune," remarked the entrepreneur, a familiar participant at the traditional January sale. Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is noted for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions. Auction Shock and Record-Setting Past After the auction, the winner told journalists that he was "surprised at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time." This latest purchase exceeds his previous historic purchases: He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Even after previously saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to surpass his personal record another time. An Annual Spectacle of High Prices The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously associated with sky-high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different food company, which stated the fish would be available at its eateries nationwide. The high-energy energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has evolved into a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception. Immediate Consumption The record-priced tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction concluded. "I feel like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," shared one happy customer.
A familiar auction figure is a prominent participant at the annual bidding war. 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 US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's first auction of the year. The successful bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the company of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which manages restaurants across the country and overseas. "An inaugural tuna brings fortune," remarked the entrepreneur, a familiar participant at the traditional January sale. Dubbed the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is noted for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile new year auctions. Auction Shock and Record-Setting Past After the auction, the winner told journalists that he was "surprised at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time." This latest purchase exceeds his previous historic purchases: He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Even after previously saying that he thought he "bid too high," he has now proceeded to surpass his personal record another time. An Annual Spectacle of High Prices The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously associated with sky-high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different food company, which stated the fish would be available at its eateries nationwide. The high-energy energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has evolved into a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception. Immediate Consumption The record-priced tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for customers at the entrepreneur's sushi restaurants immediately after the auction concluded. "I feel like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year begins," shared one happy customer.