Saltwater fish gets sold for USD3.2M at first auction of year

(MENAFN) A bluefin tuna sold for a record-breaking 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million) at the first auction of the year at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market on Monday. The 243-kilogram (536-pound) fish, caught off the coast of Oma in northeastern Japan, was purchased by Kiyomura Corp., the operator of the popular Sushizanmai sushi chain.

“The year's first tuna brings good luck. We hope as many people as possible can enjoy it and feel energized,” said Kiyomura President Kiyoshi Kimura. The tuna will be prepared at Sushizanmai’s Tsukiji flagship store and distributed to locations nationwide. Despite the record price, the company said it will sell the fish at its usual menu price.

This year’s winning bid is the highest since comparable auction data began in 1999. The event featured a wide variety of tuna and was marked by lively bidding exchanges between buyers and sellers. It also attracted many foreign tourists who came to watch the annual event.

Bidders traditionally pay large sums at the first auction of the year, as it is believed to bring good fortune and provides restaurants a marketing boost for the year ahead.

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