At 5 a.m. in Tokyo, before most people had their coffee, a bell rang at the Toyosu fish market. One bluefin tuna changed auction history by selling for 510 million yen, about $3.2 million. This 243-kilogram fish broke every past price record in just seconds. The winning bid came from Kiyomura Corp., which runs Sushi Zanmai. Its president, Kiyoshi Kimura, is famous for aggressive bidding at New Year auctions. This time, he beat his 2019 record with this massive catch from Oma, northern Japan. This area is known for bluefin prized by top sushi chefs. Buyers checked the tuna’s flesh carefully before bidding, looking at color, texture, and fat. Despite costing over $13,000 per kilogram, the high price was about more than quality—it was about the prestige of owning the year's most talked-about fish. The Tokyo New Year tuna auction is a special tradition valued for timing and luck more than everyday prices. While many tuna sell daily for much less, the first auction of the year draws global attention. This year, even a quiet start before breakfast made headlines worldwide, proving a dawn fish auction can create a big splash.