What’s a new year in Tokyo without a little jaw-dropping drama — and a very expensive fish?
At dawn on Monday, a massive bluefin tuna stole the spotlight at Toyosu fish market.
Selling for a record-smashing 510.3 million yen (about $3.2 million), yes, for a single tuna.
The 243-kilogram giant was snapped up by Kiyomura Corp, the company behind the famous Sushi Zanmai chain.
Its president, Kiyoshi Kimura — better known as the “Tuna King” — once again lived up to his reputation.
“The year’s first tuna brings good luck,” he said, even while admitting he didn’t expect the price to skyrocket so fast.
Historic Tuna Auction
This isn’t Kimura’s first headline-making bid. He’s broken records before — in 2012, 2013, and again in 2019 — but this year he outdid himself.
And that’s part of the tradition. Tokyo’s first fish auction of the year is less about profit.
Tokyo’s first fish auction of the year is more about symbolism, spectacle, and starting the year on a high note.
As tourists watched the frenetic early-morning bidding, the million-dollar tuna was quickly sliced and served to diners.
One customer summed it up perfectly: “Eating something this lucky feels like the right way to start the year.”
In Tokyo, it seems, good fortune sometimes comes raw — and very pricey.
