🔗 Share this article Bluefin Fish Sells for Record Bid of $3.2 million at Japanese Capital Auction The 'Tuna King' is a prominent participant at the yearly bidding war. A bulky bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the year. The top bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the operator of a popular sushi chain, which runs restaurants domestically and abroad. "The year's tuna signals good luck," stated the entrepreneur, a familiar participant at the traditional first sale. Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is famous for making substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions. Bidding Shock and Historic Past After the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," adding, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price escalated before you knew it." This latest acquisition tops his previous record purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012. He paid 155 million yen in 2013. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million). Even after previously commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to shatter his personal record another time. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally characterized by exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants throughout the country. The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception. Swift Service The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly prepared for patrons at the winner's sushi establishments soon after the auction was finished. "I sense like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," remarked one satisfied customer.
The 'Tuna King' is a prominent participant at the yearly bidding war. A bulky bluefin tuna caused a stir at the Tokyo's Toyosu fish market this Monday, garnering a historic bid of 510.3 million yen ($3.2m; £2.4m) during the market's opening auction of the year. The top bid for the 243kg fish was submitted by the operator of a popular sushi chain, which runs restaurants domestically and abroad. "The year's tuna signals good luck," stated the entrepreneur, a familiar participant at the traditional first sale. Referred to as the Tuna Tycoon, this entrepreneur is famous for making substantial bids for premium bluefin tuna at these high-profile January auctions. Bidding Shock and Historic Past After the auction, the winner informed journalists that he was "taken aback at the winning bid," adding, "I expected we would be able to purchase it a little cheaper, but the price escalated before you knew it." This latest acquisition tops his previous record purchases: He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen away in 2012. He paid 155 million yen in 2013. In 2019, he won a tuna for 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million). Even after previously commenting that he thought he "overdid it," he has now gone on to shatter his personal record another time. A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is traditionally characterized by exorbitant prices. In the prior year, the first tuna was purchased for 207 million yen by another food company, which announced the fish would be served at its restaurants throughout the country. The intense atmosphere at the fish market during these pre-sunrise auctions has evolved into a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no exception. Swift Service The multi-million-dollar tuna was promptly prepared for patrons at the winner's sushi establishments soon after the auction was finished. "I sense like I've begun the year in a good way after eating something so fortune-bringing as the year gets underway," remarked one satisfied customer.