Bluefin Fish Commands Historic Price 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 bidding war.

A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million; £2.4m) during the market's first auction of the calendar year.

The winning bid for the 535-pound fish came from the parent firm of a popular sushi restaurant group, which manages restaurants domestically and abroad.

"An inaugural tuna signals fortune," remarked the business owner, a notable participant at the annual first sale.

Dubbed the King of Tuna, this entrepreneur is famous for making high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions.

Bidding Surprise and Historic Precedent

After the auction, the successful bidder told the press that he was "surprised at the winning bid," adding, "I believed we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price escalated before you knew it."

This new acquisition tops his own historic purchases:

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

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

An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids

The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically characterized by sky-high prices. The previous year, the initial tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different culinary group, which stated the fish would be available at its locations nationwide.

The high-energy energy at the fish market during these early morning auctions has transformed into a must-see tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling.