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

Kiyoshi Kimura, president of Kiyomura Co. (C), poses with a tuna in front of one of the company's Sushi Zanmai restaurants after the year's first auction at Toyosu Market, Tokyo, Japan, January 5, 2020.

A celebrated Japanese sushi businessman, nicknamed "Tuna King," paid 193 million yen (1.8 million U.S. dollars) for a giant tuna at New Year's auction at Tokyo's main fish market on Sunday.

Kiyoshi Kimura, who runs a successful sushi restaurant chain, purchased the 276-kilogram bluefin tuna, caught off the Aomori region in northern Japan.

"This is the best," Kimura told reporters after the pre-dawn auction.

Kiyoshi Kimura, president of Kiyomura Co. (L), smiles in front of one of the company's Sushi Zanmai restaurants after the year's first auction at Toyosu Market, Tokyo, Japan, January 5, 2020.

"Yes, this is expensive, isn't it? I want our customers to eat very tasty ones this year too," he said.

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.

In last year's new year auction, Kimura paid a record 3.1 million U.S. dollars to win a 278-kilogram tuna.

Kiyoshi Kimura, president of Kiyomura Co. (R), arrives at one of the company's Sushi Zanmai restaurants after the year's first auction at Toyosu Market, Tokyo, Japan, January 5, 2020.

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

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.

Source(s): AFP