In Japans market, Tuna King buys fish for record USD 3.2 million for auspicious start to new year
The winning bid for the fish was made by Kiyomura Corp, the operates the national and international sushi chain Sushi Zanmai. Notably, the fish weighs a staggering 243 kg.
New Delhi: The Toyosu fish market in Japan's Tokyo witnessed a record on Monday morning at its first auction of 2026, when a bulky bluefin tuna fetched a record 510.3 million yen (approximately USD 3.2 million).
Who bid for the fish?
Kiyomura Corp made the winning bid for the fish, which operates the national and international sushi chain Sushi Zanmai. Notably, the fish weighs a staggering 243 kg.
According to Kyodo News, Kiyoshi Kimura, the company's president, who visits the annual auction every year, said, "The year's first tuna brings good luck." He is called the Tuna King and is a vociferous bidder for bluefin tuna at the auctions every year. According to AFP, he added, "I'd thought we would be able to buy a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it."
Has the Tuna King bought like this before?
This is not the first time that Kimura has shelled out such a high price for the tuna. In 2012, he paid 56.5 million yen for a bluefin tuna, and in 2013, he shelled out 155 million yen. On both occasions, he created records with the massive prices. He broke barriers again in 2019 by purchasing a bluefin tuna for 333.6 million yen. This year, he has set another record with his bid.
In 2025, Onodera Group, another food company that owns a sushi chain, bought the first tuna at the auction for 207 million yen. The record bids at the fish markets have also become a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo, with people thronging there to see the auction.