In a shocking turn of events, Japanese sushi mogul Kiyoshi Kimura has broken the bank at Tokyo's main fish market auction, shelling out a staggering 510.3 million yen (£2.4m) for a colossal bluefin tuna that weighed in at 243 kilograms.
Kimura, known to his fans as "the Tuna King," took home the top prize despite admitting he had expected the price to be lower. "I'd thought we would be able to buy a little cheaper but the price soared before you knew it," he said in a pre-dawn interview. The 82-year-old entrepreneur attributed his purchase of the tuna to its supposed auspicious qualities, hoping that eating it would bring energy to as many people as possible.
The record-breaking sale marks a significant shift from previous years, when comparable data began being tracked in 1999. In 2019, a bluefin weighing just 278 kilograms sold for a paltry 333.6 million yen, while last year's top bidder paid only 207 million yen for a similar specimen.
The tuna eventually found its way onto the menu at Kimura's restaurant chain, with each sushi roll selling for around 500 yen (approximately £2.40). Local customer Minami Sugiyama described her experience as "auspicious," even without dipping the fish in soy sauce, citing an unshakeable sense of happiness while eating it.
Fellow diner Kiyoshi Nishimura, a Shinto priest, echoed Sugiyama's sentiments, stating that the tuna's sweetness and richness brought him immense joy. It appears that Kimura's foray into high-stakes tuna auctions has paid off, as his sushi restaurant business continues to thrive.
In contrast to previous pandemic-stricken years when new year tunas were sold at a fraction of their usual top prices, this latest sale serves as a welcome boost to the Tokyo market.
Kimura, known to his fans as "the Tuna King," took home the top prize despite admitting he had expected the price to be lower. "I'd thought we would be able to buy a little cheaper but the price soared before you knew it," he said in a pre-dawn interview. The 82-year-old entrepreneur attributed his purchase of the tuna to its supposed auspicious qualities, hoping that eating it would bring energy to as many people as possible.
The record-breaking sale marks a significant shift from previous years, when comparable data began being tracked in 1999. In 2019, a bluefin weighing just 278 kilograms sold for a paltry 333.6 million yen, while last year's top bidder paid only 207 million yen for a similar specimen.
The tuna eventually found its way onto the menu at Kimura's restaurant chain, with each sushi roll selling for around 500 yen (approximately £2.40). Local customer Minami Sugiyama described her experience as "auspicious," even without dipping the fish in soy sauce, citing an unshakeable sense of happiness while eating it.
Fellow diner Kiyoshi Nishimura, a Shinto priest, echoed Sugiyama's sentiments, stating that the tuna's sweetness and richness brought him immense joy. It appears that Kimura's foray into high-stakes tuna auctions has paid off, as his sushi restaurant business continues to thrive.
In contrast to previous pandemic-stricken years when new year tunas were sold at a fraction of their usual top prices, this latest sale serves as a welcome boost to the Tokyo market.
The price of this bluefin tuna is crazy! I mean, £2.4m for 243 kg is insane. You'd think someone would have some logic in their head to drive up the price that much. 
But it's not just about the money, I guess. Kimura thinks eating this tuna will bring energy to people? That's a pretty wild claim. 
Either way, it seems like his sushi restaurant is doing alright, and customers are willing to pay top dollar for some sort of mystical experience. It's interesting that people are responding to it in such a positive way, even without the soy sauce! 
. 510 million yen is insane though, can you imagine paying that much for a meal? 
On the other hand, if eating that sushi really does bring happiness 
, then more power to Kimura and his customers! The Tokyo market must be feeling pretty good about this sale 
, especially after all those pandemic years.
I mean 510 million yen is crazy! You can buy a whole house for that price in some places. I wonder if Kiyoshi Kimura is like a super rich guy or something 
! who wouldn't want that energy 
from eating bluefin tuna? it's like the ultimate foodie win 
anyway, at least the sushi is selling well... guess you could say the fish is 'reeling' in some profit 
i'm all for supporting local businesses but come on kiyoshi, you're basically buying good vibes with that cash lol i guess when you're the "tuna king" u gotta do whatever it takes to keep those customers coming back
. Anyways, glad it's a boost for the Tokyo market, but I'm not exactly feeling the excitement about this sale 
.