Bluefin Fish Fetches Historic Price of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo Auction

A large bluefin tuna on display at a fish market auction — The winning bidder is a well-known presence at the yearly event.

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

The top offer for the 535-pound fish came from the company of a popular sushi restaurant group, which operates outlets domestically and internationally.

"The first tuna brings good luck," remarked the entrepreneur, a familiar figure at the traditional January sale.

Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this industry figure is noted for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions.

Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent

After the auction, the winner informed the press that he was "surprised at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time."

This most recent acquisition tops his previous historic purchases:

He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012.
He paid 155 million yen in 2013.
In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).

Even after once remarking that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to shatter his own record once again.

An Annual Spectacle of High Prices

The opening auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously characterized by exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by a different food company, which stated the fish would be featured at its eateries throughout the country.

The frenetic 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 different.