Japan’s so-called Tuna King has smashed the record for the most expensive bluefin bought since records began in 1999, forking out over $3.2 million. Sushi master Kiyoshi Kimura is set to slice up the 536 pounds of fish into sushi rolls that he’ll sell in his chain of stores for the equivalent of around $3.20. Speaking at the end of an auction completed before the sun had risen, Kimura said, “I’d thought we would be able to buy a little cheaper but the price soared before you knew it,” Agence France-Presse reports. “I was surprised at the price. I hope that by eating auspicious tuna, as many people as possible will feel energized.” The Tuna King’s winning bid at Tokyo’s main fish market crushed 2019’s previous record of $2.1 million paid for a larger 613 lbs specimen. Speaking to AFP at a Kimura restaurant, 19-year-old Minami Sugiyama said, “I feel like I’ve begun the year in a good way after eating something so auspicious as the year starts.”
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