A single bluefin tuna captured the spotlight at Tokyo’s New Year auction, fetching a jaw-dropping price and setting a new record.
A Historic Purchase
At the first auction of 2026 at Toyosu fish market, a massive 243-kilogram bluefin tuna sold for 510 million yen, about €2.78 million. The winning bid came from Kiyomura Corp., owned by Kiyoshi Kimura, the founder of the popular Sushi Zanmai chain. Kimura, a regular at the annual event, smashed his own 2019 record of 334 million yen. He admitted afterward that he had hoped to pay less but that “the price shot up before you knew it.”
The Fame of Oma Tuna
The prized fish was caught off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region renowned for producing some of the country’s finest tuna. At roughly 2.1 million yen (€11,500) per kilogram, Oma tuna is prized for its rich flavor, balanced fat, and firm texture. During the auction, buyers examined rows of torpedo-shaped tuna with their tails removed to inspect the meat’s color, texture, and fattiness. “It’s in part for good luck,” Kimura said. “But when I see a good looking tuna, I cannot resist … I haven’t sampled it yet, but it’s got to be delicious.”
Tradition and Conservation
While hundreds of tuna are sold daily at Toyosu, New Year auctions are a special occasion, with prices significantly higher for top-tier fish like those from Oma. Pacific bluefin tuna were once considered threatened due to overfishing and climate change. Thanks to ongoing conservation efforts, stocks are gradually recovering, allowing prized catches to continue drawing attention from chefs and sushi enthusiasts around the world.
