Bluefin Tuna Sells for Record $3.2m at Tokyo’s First Fish Auction of the Year
A giant bluefin tuna has set a new price record at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, selling for 510.3 million yen, equivalent to about $3.2m, during the market’s first auction of the year.
The 243kg fish was secured by Kiyomura Corp, the company behind the Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain, which operates outlets across Japan and internationally. Its president, Kiyoshi Kimura, once again emerged as the highest bidder at the closely watched New Year auction.
Often referred to in the industry as the “Tuna King”, Kimura has a long history of paying premium prices for top-quality bluefin tuna at the annual event. Speaking after the sale, he said he had not expected the bidding to reach such heights, noting that the price rose rapidly during the auction.
The purchase surpasses Kimura’s previous record-breaking bids. He paid 333.6 million yen for a tuna in 2019, after earlier setting benchmarks with purchases of 56.5 million yen in 2012 and 155 million yen in 2013.
The opening auction of the year at Toyosu is known for its inflated prices, driven by tradition, symbolism and fierce competition among buyers. In 2025, the first tuna sold for 207 million yen to the Onodera Group, another major sushi operator, which later served the fish in its restaurants nationwide.
Monday’s auction began shortly after 5:00am local time and drew significant attention, with the lively atmosphere adding to its appeal as a tourist attraction in the Japanese capital. Following the sale, the record-setting tuna was quickly prepared and served at Sushi Zanmai restaurants.
One diner told reporters that eating the prized tuna at the start of the year felt like a positive and auspicious way to begin the year.
