🔗 Share this article Pacific Bluefin Tuna Fetches Record Price of 3.2 million dollars at Tokyo New Year Sale The 'Tuna King' is a regular participant at the yearly event. A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the new year. The successful offer for the 535-pound fish came from the parent firm of a nationwide sushi chain, which manages outlets throughout Japan and abroad. "An inaugural tuna brings a prosperous start," commented the entrepreneur, a familiar figure at the traditional new year's auction. Known as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is famous for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions. Bidding Shock and Historic Precedent After the auction, the successful bidder informed journalists that he was "taken aback at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price escalated in no time." This latest acquisition surpasses his previous record purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back 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 gone on to break his own record once again. A Tradition of High Prices The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically characterized by exceptionally high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be available at its restaurants across Japan. The intense energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a must-see event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. Swift Service The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly prepared for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction concluded. "I feel like I've started the year in a positive way after consuming something so lucky as the year gets underway," remarked one elated diner.
The 'Tuna King' is a regular participant at the yearly event. A bulky bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a record-breaking bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the new year. The successful offer for the 535-pound fish came from the parent firm of a nationwide sushi chain, which manages outlets throughout Japan and abroad. "An inaugural tuna brings a prosperous start," commented the entrepreneur, a familiar figure at the traditional new year's auction. Known as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is famous for submitting substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these auspicious year-opening auctions. Bidding Shock and Historic Precedent After the auction, the successful bidder informed journalists that he was "taken aback at the final price," stating, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price escalated in no time." This latest acquisition surpasses his previous record purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back 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 gone on to break his own record once again. A Tradition of High Prices The inaugural auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically characterized by exceptionally high prices. Last year, the initial tuna was acquired for 207 million yen by another sushi chain operator, which announced the fish would be available at its restaurants across Japan. The intense energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has become a must-see event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was equally bustling. Swift Service The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly prepared for patrons at the entrepreneur's sushi chains soon after the auction concluded. "I feel like I've started the year in a positive way after consuming something so lucky as the year gets underway," remarked one elated diner.