đź”— Share this article Pacific Bluefin Fish Commands Record Price of $3.2m at Tokyo New Year Sale A familiar auction figure is a well-known presence at the annual bidding war. A bulky bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; ÂŁ2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the year. The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the operator of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets domestically and overseas. "The first tuna signals fortune," stated the business owner, a notable participant at the traditional first sale. Referred to as the Tuna King, this businessman is renowned for submitting record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic January auctions. Bidding Shock and Historic Past After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "taken aback at the final price," adding, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time." This new purchase tops his previous record purchases: He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m). Despite once commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to break his personal record another time. A Tradition of High Prices The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously known for exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which indicated the fish would be available at its restaurants across Japan. The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. From Auction to Plate The extremely valuable tuna was quickly processed for patrons at the bidder's sushi establishments immediately after the auction was finished. "I believe like I've commenced the year in a good way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," remarked one happy diner.
A familiar auction figure is a well-known presence at the annual bidding war. A bulky bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; ÂŁ2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the year. The top bid for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the operator of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which runs outlets domestically and overseas. "The first tuna signals fortune," stated the business owner, a notable participant at the traditional first sale. Referred to as the Tuna King, this businessman is renowned for submitting record bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic January auctions. Bidding Shock and Historic Past After the auction, the successful bidder admitted to the press that he was "taken aback at the final price," adding, "I believed we would be able to buy it a little at a lower price, but the price soared in no time." This new purchase tops his previous record purchases: He bid 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He bid 155 million yen a year later. In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1m). Despite once commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now gone on to break his personal record another time. A Tradition of High Prices The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is notoriously known for exceptionally high prices. In the prior year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a separate culinary group, which indicated the fish would be available at its restaurants across Japan. The frenetic atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has become a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which began around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. From Auction to Plate The extremely valuable tuna was quickly processed for patrons at the bidder's sushi establishments immediately after the auction was finished. "I believe like I've commenced the year in a good way after consuming something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," remarked one happy diner.