A colossal bluefin tuna made headlines at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, fetching a record price at the first auction of 2026.
A Historic Catch
The 243-kilogram tuna sold for 510 million yen, or roughly €2.78 million, to Kiyomura Corp., whose owner Kiyoshi Kimura runs the popular Sushi Zanmai chain. Kimura, a familiar face at these auctions, smashed his own 2019 record of 334 million yen. He admitted afterward that he had hoped to spend a little less, but “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 known for producing some of the finest tuna in the country. At approximately 2.1 million yen (€11,500) per kilogram, the tuna is prized for its color, texture, and rich fat content. Auction participants inspected the fish carefully, with tails removed to examine the meat up close. “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, Celebration, and Conservation
While hundreds of tuna are sold at Toyosu every day, prices at the New Year auction are typically higher, especially for premium Oma tuna. Pacific bluefin tuna, once considered threatened due to overfishing and climate change, have seen populations recover thanks to conservation efforts, allowing top-quality fish to continue drawing worldwide attention and commanding extraordinary prices.
