🔗 Share this article Pacific Bluefin Fish Commands Historic Bid of $3.2m at Japanese Capital Auction The 'Tuna King' is a well-known face at the traditional event. A substantial 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 opening auction of the calendar year. The top bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the parent firm of a popular sushi chain, which manages outlets domestically and overseas. "The first tuna brings a prosperous start," commented the business owner, a notable bidder at the yearly new year's auction. Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is renowned for placing high bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions. Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "surprised at the final price," adding, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it." This most recent acquisition surpasses his previous record purchases: He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012. He spent 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Despite previously saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his own record once again. An Annual Spectacle of High Prices The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally characterized by exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which announced the fish would be available at its restaurants across Japan. The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. From Auction to Plate The record-priced tuna was promptly processed for customers at the bidder's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction concluded. "I feel like I've started the year in a auspicious way after tasting something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one satisfied patron.
The 'Tuna King' is a well-known face at the traditional event. A substantial 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 opening auction of the calendar year. The top bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the parent firm of a popular sushi chain, which manages outlets domestically and overseas. "The first tuna brings a prosperous start," commented the business owner, a notable bidder at the yearly new year's auction. Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is renowned for placing high bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions. Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent Following the auction, the successful bidder admitted to reporters that he was "surprised at the final price," adding, "I believed we would be able to acquire it a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it." This most recent acquisition surpasses his previous record purchases: He bid 56.5 million yen away in 2012. He spent 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars). Despite previously saying that he thought he "did too much," he has now managed to shatter his own record once again. An Annual Spectacle of High Prices The first auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally characterized by exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which announced the fish would be available at its restaurants across Japan. The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. From Auction to Plate The record-priced tuna was promptly processed for customers at the bidder's sushi restaurants shortly after the auction concluded. "I feel like I've started the year in a auspicious way after tasting something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one satisfied patron.