🔗 Share this article Bluefin Fish Fetches Historic Sum of $3.2m at Japanese Capital New Year Sale A familiar auction figure is a prominent participant at the traditional sale. A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the new year. The top offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which operates restaurants throughout Japan and overseas. "The first tuna brings a prosperous start," remarked the entrepreneur, a notable bidder at the traditional January sale. Dubbed the King of Tuna, this businessman is noted for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions. Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "taken aback at the amount," stating, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated before you knew it." This new acquisition exceeds his own notable purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012. He bid 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million). Even after previously saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to shatter his personal record another time. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously characterized by exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which announced the fish would be available at its locations across Japan. The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception. From Auction to Plate The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the bidder's sushi establishments immediately after the auction ended. "I feel like I've begun the year in a auspicious way after eating something so auspicious as the year begins," shared one happy customer.
A familiar auction figure is a prominent participant at the traditional sale. A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the new year. The top offer for the 243kg fish was placed by the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which operates restaurants throughout Japan and overseas. "The first tuna brings a prosperous start," remarked the entrepreneur, a notable bidder at the traditional January sale. Dubbed the King of Tuna, this businessman is noted for making record bids for bluefin tuna at these high-profile year-opening auctions. Auction Shock and Record-Setting Precedent After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "taken aback at the amount," stating, "I had thought we would be able to purchase it a little at a lower price, but the price escalated before you knew it." This new acquisition exceeds his own notable purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012. He bid 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million). Even after previously saying that he thought he "overdid it," he has now managed to shatter his personal record another time. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously characterized by exceptionally high prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which announced the fish would be available at its locations across Japan. The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a popular event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception. From Auction to Plate The extremely valuable tuna was quickly sliced up for diners at the bidder's sushi establishments immediately after the auction ended. "I feel like I've begun the year in a auspicious way after eating something so auspicious as the year begins," shared one happy customer.