Japan 'Tuna King' buys new year catch for $1.8 million

The bluefin tuna was caught off the Aomori region in northern Japan

Published: January 05, 2020 13:35 AFP and Compiled by Christian Borbon, Digital Content Producer

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Tokyo: A celebrated Japanese sushi businessman, nicknamed 'Tuna King', paid $1.8 million for a giant tuna at New Year's auction at Tokyo's main fish market. Image Credit: AFP

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Kiyoshi Kimura, who runs a successful sushi restaurant chain, paid 193 million yen ($1.8 million) to purchase a 276-kilogramme (608-pound) bluefin tuna, caught off the Aomori region in northern Japan. Image Credit: via REUTERS

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Wholesalers participate in the New Year's auction at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market. "This is the best," Kimura told reporters after the pre-dawn auction. Image Credit: AFP

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Wholesalers hold an opening ceremony prior to the New Year's auction at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market . "Yes, this is expensive, isn't it? I want our customers to eat very tasty ones this year too," he said. Image Credit: AFP

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Media-savvy Kimura regularly pays top price at the first auction of the year at the Japanese capital's main fish market, making himself and his business a fixture in national news during this season. Image Credit: AP

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In last year's new year auction, Kimura paid a record $3.1 million to win a 278-kilogramme (612-pound) tuna. Image Credit: AFP

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The traditional auction is now being held in a new market in an area called Toyosu. Image Credit: AFP

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The world-famous Tsukiji market, which had long served as a popular tourist attraction in an area packed with restaurants and shops, closed in 2018. Image Credit: AP

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Employees for Kiyomura Corp. dismantle a bluefin tuna the company bought for 193.2 million yen (1.8 million USD) at auction at their main restaurant in Tokyo. Image Credit: AFP

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Kiyoshi Kimura (C), president of Kiyomura Corp., the Tokyo-based operator of sushi restaurant chain Sushizanmai, poses with a sword before slicing up a bluefin tuna the company bought for 193.2 million yen (1.8 million USD) at auction at his main restaurant in Tokyo. Image Credit: AFP

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