Tokyo [Japan], January 6 (ANI): A bluefin tuna was sold for a record 510.3 million Japanese Yen (approximately USD 3.2 million) on Monday at the first auction of the year at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, Kyodo News reported.
The tuna, one of the most sought-after fish for Japan’s iconic dish sushi, weighed 243 kg and was caught off the coast of Oma in Aomori Prefecture, in the Tohoku region. It was purchased by Kiyomura Corporation, the Tokyo-based operator of the popular sushi chain Sushizanmai.
Calling the New Year’s first tuna a symbol of good fortune, Kiyomura President Kiyoshi Kimura said the company hopes customers will enjoy the fish and feel energized. “The year’s first tuna brings good luck. We hope as many people as possible can enjoy it and feel energized,” Kimura stated, as reported by Kyodo News.
The tuna will be prepared at Sushizanmai’s Tsukiji head branch and distributed to its outlets across Japan. Despite the record-breaking price, the company said it will serve the fish to customers at regular menu rates.
According to the Tokyo metropolitan government, this was the highest winning bid since comparable records began in 1999, far exceeding the previous record of 333.6 million Yen set in 2019 after the relocation of the historic Tsukiji fish market to Toyosu.
The early-morning auction, which began at 5:10 a.m. local time, drew large crowds, including foreign tourists, who watched bidders compete in the traditional New Year event. High bids at the first auction of the year are widely seen as a sign of good luck and serve as a promotional opportunity for restaurants.
Tuna prices have rebounded in recent years after slumping during the COVID-19 pandemic, with top bids recorded at 36.0 million Yen in 2023, 114.2 million Yen in 2024, and 207.0 million Yen in 2025, Kyodo News reported.
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