Bluefin Fish Sells for Historic Price of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital New Year Sale

A substantial bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering 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 535-pound fish was submitted by the parent firm of a well-known sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets across the country and abroad.

"An inaugural tuna heralds a prosperous start," remarked the company president, a notable figure at the yearly January sale.

Known as the Tuna Tycoon, this businessman is renowned for submitting record bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions.

Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent

Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "astonished at the amount," adding, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price soared rapidly."

This new acquisition exceeds his own notable 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 ($2.1m).

Even after once remarking that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to shatter his personal record another time.

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally characterized by sky-high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which indicated the fish would be served at its restaurants across Japan.

The high-energy atmosphere at the fish market during these early morning auctions has evolved into a major event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception.

From Auction to Plate

The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly sliced up for diners at the bidder's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction concluded.

"I sense like I've begun the year in a good way after consuming something so auspicious as the year starts," remarked one satisfied customer.