lucky charm

今年最初のマグロの競りが行われました。
Bluefin tuna price plunges 95% at year's first auction

The price decline was in part due to the greater number of bluefin tuna available from Oma, Aomori Prefecture, that is a top site for tuna fishing.

But after overheated bidding last year saw prices skyrocket, concerns over excessive inflation saw other bidders stay away from vying with the Sushi-Zanmai chain, which won last year’s auction for the record-breaking fish.

“The first auction should be a place to bid for the best-quality tuna, which is thought to be a lucky charm for business,” said Makoto Kondo, spokesman for the rival Hong Kong-linked Itamae-Sushi chain. “But it turned out to be a bidding for the sake of high prices last year.”

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/bluefin-tuna-price-slumps-at-years-first-auction

この記事の中に出てくる”lucky charm”をWeblioで調べると「縁起物」という意味がありました。年始のマグロの価格が吊り上がるのは，宣伝目的以外にも，縁起を担ぐため，多くの業者が買いたがるのだと思います。（Ume）