🔗 Share this article Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Historic Price of 3.2 million dollars at Japanese Capital Auction The 'Tuna King' is a prominent face at the yearly sale. A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year. The successful offer for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the company of a popular sushi chain, which operates restaurants throughout Japan and abroad. "An inaugural tuna heralds a prosperous start," remarked the entrepreneur, a familiar bidder at the annual first sale. Dubbed the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions. Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent Following the auction, the winner told reporters that he was "surprised at the amount," stating, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price escalated before you knew it." This most recent purchase tops his own record purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen in 2013. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million). Despite once remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to surpass his own record once again. An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally characterized by exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which indicated the fish would be available at its locations across Japan. The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception. From Auction to Plate The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for patrons at the winner's sushi restaurants soon after the auction concluded. "I believe like I've begun the year in a good way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," said one happy diner.
The 'Tuna King' is a prominent face at the yearly sale. A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's inaugural auction of the calendar year. The successful offer for the 243-kilogram fish was submitted by the company of a popular sushi chain, which operates restaurants throughout Japan and abroad. "An inaugural tuna heralds a prosperous start," remarked the entrepreneur, a familiar bidder at the annual first sale. Dubbed the King of Tuna, this industry figure is noted for placing substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious new year auctions. Bidding Shock and Record-Setting Precedent Following the auction, the winner told reporters that he was "surprised at the amount," stating, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price escalated before you knew it." This most recent purchase tops his own record purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen in 2013. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million). Despite once remarking that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to surpass his own record once again. An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is traditionally characterized by exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which indicated the fish would be available at its locations across Japan. The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has transformed into a major spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception. From Auction to Plate The extremely valuable tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for patrons at the winner's sushi restaurants soon after the auction concluded. "I believe like I've begun the year in a good way after tasting something so fortune-bringing as the year starts," said one happy diner.