Tuna sells for 56.49 mil. yen

Tuna sells for 56.49 mil. yen

TOKYO, Japan - A cook shows customers meat from a 269-kilogram bluefin tuna at a sushi bar in Tokyo's Tsukiji area on Jan. 5, 2012, after its operator bought the fish earlier in the day for a record 56.49 million yen, or 210,000 yen per kilogram, at the first auction of the year at the Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market in Tsukiji.

Tuna sells for 56.49 mil. yen

Tuna sells for 56.49 mil. yen

TOKYO, Japan - A 269-kilogram bluefin tuna is cut up at a sushi bar in Tokyo's Tsukiji area on Jan. 5, 2012, after its operator bought the fish earlier in the day for a record 56.49 million yen, or 210,000 yen per kilogram, at the first auction of the year at the Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market in Tsukiji.

Tuna auctioned off for record price at Tsukiji market

Tuna auctioned off for record price at Tsukiji market

TOKYO, Japan - Kiyoshi Kimura, head of Kiyomura Co., operator of the Sushi-zanmai sushi restaurant chain, poses with a 269-kilogram bluefin tuna he bought for a record 56.49 million yen at the first auction of the year at the Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, commonly known as Tsukiji market, in Tokyo early in the morning on Jan. 5, 2012.

Year's 1st tuna auction at Tsukiji market

Year's 1st tuna auction at Tsukiji market

TOKYO, Japan - Wholesale dealers and purchasers check the conditions of tuna ahead of the year's first auction at the Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, commonly known as Tsukiji market, in Tokyo early in the morning on Jan. 5, 2012. A 269-kilogram bluefin tuna from Oma, Aomori Prefecture, was sold for 56.49 million yen, or 210,000 yen per kg, shattering the previous record of 32.49 million yen, or 95,000 yen per kg.

Tuna sells for 56.49 mil. yen

Tuna sells for 56.49 mil. yen

TOKYO, Japan - A 269-kilogram bluefin tuna is cut up at a sushi bar in Tokyo's Tsukiji area on Jan. 5, 2012, after its operator bought the fish earlier in the day for a record 56.49 million yen, or 210,000 yen per kilogram, at the first auction of the year at the Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market in Tsukiji. (Kyodo)

Tuna sells for 56.49 mil. yen

Tuna sells for 56.49 mil. yen

TOKYO, Japan - A cook shows customers meat from a 269-kilogram bluefin tuna at a sushi bar in Tokyo's Tsukiji area on Jan. 5, 2012, after its operator bought the fish earlier in the day for a record 56.49 million yen, or 210,000 yen per kilogram, at the first auction of the year at the Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market in Tsukiji. (Kyodo)

Year's 1st tuna auction at Tsukiji market

Year's 1st tuna auction at Tsukiji market

TOKYO, Japan - Wholesale dealers and purchasers check the conditions of tuna ahead of the year's first auction at the Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, commonly known as Tsukiji market, in Tokyo early in the morning on Jan. 5, 2012. A 269-kilogram bluefin tuna from Oma, Aomori Prefecture, was sold for 56.49 million yen, or 210,000 yen per kg, shattering the previous record of 32.49 million yen, or 95,000 yen per kg. (Kyodo)

Tuna auctioned off for record price at Tsukiji market

Tuna auctioned off for record price at Tsukiji market

TOKYO, Japan - Kiyoshi Kimura, head of Kiyomura Co., operator of the Sushi-zanmai sushi restaurant chain, poses with a 269-kilogram bluefin tuna he bought for a record 56.49 million yen at the first auction of the year at the Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market, commonly known as Tsukiji market, in Tokyo early in the morning on Jan. 5, 2012. (Kyodo)