Pacific Bluefin Tuna Sells for Record Sum of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction

A large bluefin tuna on display at a fish market auction — A familiar auction figure is a regular presence at the yearly event.

A bulky Pacific bluefin tuna made headlines at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the calendar year.

The top offer for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the operator of a well-known sushi chain, which runs restaurants throughout Japan and abroad.

"The first tuna heralds fortune," stated the entrepreneur, a familiar bidder at the yearly January sale.

Known as the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is famous for placing substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.

Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Precedent

After the auction, the winner informed reporters that he was "astonished at the amount," stating, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little for less, but the price escalated rapidly."

This most recent purchase tops his own notable purchases:

He paid 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
He spent 155 million yen the following year.
In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m).

Despite once commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to break his personal record once again.

An Annual Spectacle of High Prices

The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally known for exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be served at its restaurants nationwide.

The high-energy activity at the fish market during these early morning auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was no different.

Swift Service

The record-priced tuna was shortly thereafter sliced up for diners at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction concluded.

"I sense like I've commenced the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so auspicious as the year gets underway," said one happy customer.