Additional Coverage:
- Bluefin tuna sells for record $3.2 million at year-opening auction at Tokyo fish market (nbcnews.com)
TOKYO – A colossal 535-pound bluefin tuna made a splash at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, fetching a record-shattering 510 million yen (that’s a cool $3.2 million) at the first auction of 2026. This isn’t just any fish; it’s the kind of catch that sets tongues wagging and wallets wide open.
The big spender behind this record-breaking bid was none other than Kiyomura Corp., helmed by the legendary Kiyoshi Kimura, owner of the popular Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain. Kimura is no stranger to the annual New Year’s auction spotlight, having claimed the top tuna numerous times before. In fact, he beat his own 2019 record of 334 million yen ($2.1 million) with this latest acquisition.
When quizzed by reporters, Kimura admitted he’d hoped to snag the prized fish for a bit less, but as he put it, “the price shot up before you knew it.” A true bidding war for a true delicacy!
The predawn auction kicked off with a ringing bell, transforming the market floor into a bustling scene. Buyers, armed with discerning eyes, navigated rows of torpedo-shaped tuna, each with its tail neatly removed to allow for a close inspection of the meat’s color, texture, and coveted fattiness.
This exceptionally pricey catch was reeled in off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region renowned for producing some of the nation’s most exquisite tuna. At a staggering 2.1 million yen ($13,360) per kilogram ($6,060 per pound), this fish is definitely dining in style.
“It’s in part for good luck,” Kimura mused. “But when I see a good-looking tuna, I cannot resist. …
I haven’t sampled it yet, but it’s got to be delicious.” With a price tag like that, it better be!
While hundreds of tuna pass through the early morning auction daily, the New Year’s auction, especially for Oma tuna, sees prices soar to celebratory heights.
The popularity of tuna for sushi and sashimi has, in the past, put the Pacific bluefin tuna on the threatened species list due to climate change and overfishing. However, thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, its stock is thankfully on the mend.