First tuna fish auction of the year in Japan

The first tuna auction of the year at Tokyo's famed Tsukiji market is a competitive event.

Winning the bid for the first fish is believed to bring good luck for the coming year.

Sushi chain owner Kyoshi Kimura had the winning bid on Monday.

It's the third year in a row he gets to take home the prize catch.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) PRESIDENT OF KIYOMURA CO. LTD., KIYOSHI KIMURA, SAYING:

"It's my best day. I'm happy. It's a happy world."

He landed the 180 kilo -- or nearly 400 pound -- blue fin at a bargain 25-thousand yen per kilo -- about a 20 percent discount to last year's price.

Still, that adds up to four-and-a-half million yen -- or about 37-thousand 500 US dollars.

The blue fin is a delicacy known for its tender meat.

Lucky diners at the main outlet of Komura's Suzhi Zanmai restaurant will pay the regular price for a slice of the premium meat.