🔗 Share this article Bluefin Tuna Fetches Historic Bid of $3.2m at Japanese Capital Auction The 'Tuna King' is a prominent participant at the yearly event. A substantial bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the new year. The successful bid for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which manages outlets across the country and abroad. "An inaugural tuna brings fortune," stated the company president, a notable figure at the annual new year's auction. Referred to as the King of Tuna, this businessman is renowned for making substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions. Bidding Surprise and Historic Past After the auction, the winner admitted to reporters that he was "surprised at the winning bid," noting, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price escalated in no time." This new purchase exceeds his own notable purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He paid 155 million yen the following year. In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million). Despite once commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to surpass his own record once again. An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically characterized by exceptionally high prices. Last year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which indicated the fish would be available at its eateries nationwide. The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a must-see event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception. Swift Service The record-priced tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for diners at the winner's sushi establishments shortly after the auction concluded. "I feel like I've begun the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so lucky as the year starts," said one happy patron.
The 'Tuna King' is a prominent participant at the yearly event. A substantial bluefin tuna made headlines at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a unprecedented bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the market's inaugural auction of the new year. The successful bid for the 535-pound fish was submitted by the company of a nationwide sushi restaurant group, which manages outlets across the country and abroad. "An inaugural tuna brings fortune," stated the company president, a notable figure at the annual new year's auction. Referred to as the King of Tuna, this businessman is renowned for making substantial bids for bluefin tuna at these symbolic year-opening auctions. Bidding Surprise and Historic Past After the auction, the winner admitted to reporters that he was "surprised at the winning bid," noting, "I had thought we would be able to buy it a little cheaper, but the price escalated in no time." This new purchase exceeds his own notable purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012. He paid 155 million yen the following year. In 2019, he acquired a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million). Despite once commenting that he thought he "did too much," he has now proceeded to surpass his own record once again. An Annual Spectacle of Exorbitant Bids The inaugural auction at the Toyosu fish market is typically characterized by exceptionally high prices. Last year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another culinary group, which indicated the fish would be available at its eateries nationwide. The frenetic activity at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a must-see event in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which commenced around 05:00 local time, was no exception. Swift Service The record-priced tuna was shortly thereafter prepared for diners at the winner's sushi establishments shortly after the auction concluded. "I feel like I've begun the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so lucky as the year starts," said one happy patron.