The 342kg (754lb) fish was snapped up in auction by the owners of Kyubey, an upscale Tokyo sushi restaurant, and Itamae Sushi, a Hong Kong-based chain.
The previous record was set in 2001 when a 202kg fish sold for 20.2 million yen (£130,000) at the same Tsukiji market in Japan.
Sushi has become increasingly popular worldwide while the first sale of the New Year is traditionally seen as an important day for Japan's fishing industry.
Even so, the price tag surprised traders.
"It was an exceptionally large fish," said market spokesman Yutaka Hasegawa.
"But we were all surprised by the price."
Environmental groups are concerned about the levels of bluefin tuna.
The World Wildlife Fund has warned that the Atlantic bluefin will be "functionally extinct" in three years if fishing continues at current rates.
Environmental groups want to see bluefin fishing slashed or suspended.
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