> At a Glance
> – A 535-pound bluefin tuna fetched a record $3.2 million at Tokyo’s New Year auction
> – The winning bid of 510 million yen nearly doubled the prior record set in 2019
> – Kiyoshi Kimura, owner of Sushi Zanmai chain, placed the winning bid
> – Why it matters: The sale signals both tradition and market demand for premium tuna
The first tuna auction of 2026 in Tokyo produced a jaw-dropping price as a 243-kg bluefin sold for more than $3 million, setting a new benchmark for the prized fish.
Record Auction
The tuna was hauled off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region famed for premium bluefin. When the bell rang at Toyosu fish market, bidders circled rows of tail-less tuna to judge meat color, texture, and fat content.
Kiyomura Corp., led by Kiyoshi Kimura, won the fish for 510 million yen-eclipsing his own 2019 record of 334 million yen. The cost works out to roughly $13,360 per kilogram.
- Final price: $3.2 million
- Previous record: $2.1 million (2019)
- Per-kilogram cost: 2.1 million yen
Symbolic Purchase
Kimura, who has dominated past auctions, admitted he hoped to pay less.
> “The price shot up before you knew it.”
He cited both good-luck tradition and the fish’s quality for his persistence.
> “When I see a good looking tuna, I cannot resist … I haven’t sampled it yet, but it’s got to be delicious.”
Conservation Note
Pacific bluefin tuna, once threatened by overfishing and climate impacts, is recovering thanks to conservation measures. Hundreds of tuna change hands daily at Toyosu, but New Year celebratory auctions regularly command premium prices.
Key Takeaways
- Tokyo’s first 2026 tuna auction produced a record $3.2 million sale
- Winning bidder Kiyoshi Kimura now holds the two highest prices ever paid
- Conservation efforts show signs of success for Pacific bluefin stocks
The historic sale underscores both cultural tradition and enduring demand for top-grade bluefin in Japan’s sushi markets.
