The winning bid was placed by Kiyomura Corp, operator of the popular Sushi Zanmai chain. Its president, Kiyoshi Kimura, is a familiar face at these pre-dawn events and is affectionately known as the “Tuna King” for his history of high-stakes bidding, BBC reports.

Mr Kimura’s latest purchase eclipses his previous record set in 2019, when he paid 333.6 million yen (c. £1.6m) for a prize catch. Although the entrepreneur admitted to reporters that the price “soared” higher than he had anticipated, he maintained that securing the year’s first tuna brings good luck. This year’s victory marks a return to form for Mr Kimura, following the Onodera Group’s top bid of 207 million (c. £1m) yen at the previous year’s auction.

The atmosphere at the market was characteristically frenetic, with the action kicking off at 5am local time. Immediately following the sale, the multi-million pound fish was transported to Mr Kimura’s restaurants to be sliced and served. Diners expressed delight at the occasion, with one customer noting that consuming such an auspicious meal felt like a positive way to begin the year.