Bluefin tuna sale in Japan is a record

TOKYO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A 489.5-pound bluefin tuna sold for a record price of about $1.3 million Saturday in Tokyo.

The sale at the year's first auction at the Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market amounted to $2,656 per pound, Kyodo News reported.

The pricey fish went to a sushi restaurant chain, Kiyomura Co.

"It was a little bit expensive," company President Kiyoshi Kimura said. "But I hope we can encourage Japan by providing good tuna."

At last year's first auction, Kyomura set the bluefin record at about $647,000, Kyodo said.