At the opening fish auction of 2026 held at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, a giant bluefin tuna weighing 243 kilograms sold for an astonishing 510 million yen (about $3.2 million) the highest price ever paid at the annual New Year event.
The prized tuna was purchased by Kiyomura Corp., led by Kiyoshi Kimura, the president of the famous sushi restaurant chain Sushi Zanmai a figure affectionately known in Japan as the “Tuna King.” Kimura has regularly topped bids at the first auction of the year, traditionally seen as both a symbolic start to the fishing season and a wish for good fortune.
Caught off Japan’s northern coast, the tuna from Oma in Aomori Prefecture a region renowned for premium bluefin drew intense competition before the final record-setting bid was secured early in the morning.
This year’s sale not only shattered previous price records but also underscored the enduring cultural and commercial prestige of Japan’s New Year tuna auction. Bluefin tuna are prized for their rich flavour and are a centerpiece of high-end sushi and sashimi, making this auction a major event in the world of gastronomy. The record bid reflects a blend of culinary passion, tradition, and media spectacle with buyers keen to claim both the finest fish and the headlines that come with it.
