$3.2 Million Fish: New Year's Tuna Sells for Record Price

A single bluefin tuna sold for a record 471 million yen ($3.2 million USD) at Tokyo's first major auction of the year. The 243-kilogram (535-pound) fish was purchased by Kiyoshi Kimura, a restaurateur known in Japan as the "Tuna King." The price broke his own previous record set in 2019. Kimura owns the Sushi-Zanmai restaurant chain. He told reporters that buying the year's first prized tuna at the Toyosu market is a tradition that brings good luck. The annual auction signals the start of Japan's new year celebrations. The high price often reflects business optimism and is seen as a marketing event for buyers. Kimura's purchase will be served at his restaurants across Japan. Despite the multi-million-dollar auction price, customers will pay normal menu prices for the tuna.