A colossal bluefin tuna has fetched a staggering world-record price at Japan's famed first auction of the year, with sushi magnate Kiyoshi Kimura securing the prized fish for a breathtaking 510 million yen (£2.4 million).
The Tuna King's Record-Breaking Bid
The monumental sale took place on Monday 5 January 2026 at the Toyosu fish market in Tokyo, easily surpassing all previous records. The buyer was Kiyomura Corp, the company owned by Kiyoshi Kimura, who is renowned across Japan as the "Tuna King". Mr Kimura, who operates the popular Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain, is no stranger to these headline-grabbing purchases, having won the annual New Year auction multiple times before.
This purchase, however, smashed the previous record of 334 million yen (£1.6 million), which was also set by Mr Kimura back in 2019. The restaurateur admitted he had hoped to pay less, but noted that "the price shot up before you knew it." The giant bluefin weighed an impressive 243kg (535lb) and was caught off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region celebrated for producing the country's finest tuna.
A Purchase for Luck and Quality
Speaking after his victorious bid, Mr Kimura explained the dual motivation behind the extravagant purchase. "It's in part for good luck," he said, referencing the traditional significance of the first auction. But his passion for the product was clear as he added, "But when I see a good-looking tuna, I cannot resist... I haven't sampled it yet, but it's got to be delicious."
The record-breaking fish was swiftly transported to the head branch of Sushi Zanmai. There, expert chefs will slice and prepare it for distribution to the chain's restaurants across Japan. In a gesture to his customers, Mr Kimura confirmed that dishes made from this multi-million-pound tuna will be sold at the chain's standard prices, allowing the public a rare taste of the historic catch.
Conservation Context of a Coveted Fish
The sky-high price underscores the immense popularity of bluefin tuna in Japanese cuisine, particularly for sushi and sashimi. This demand has historically placed significant pressure on the species. The Pacific bluefin tuna has been listed as a threatened species, with populations impacted by overfishing and climate change.
However, recent years have seen a note of cautious optimism. Concerted international conservation efforts and stricter fishing quotas have led to reports that the stock is now in a phase of recovery. This record sale highlights the enduring cultural and economic value of the species, even as the industry works towards more sustainable management.
