A Japanese sushi restaurant operator paid a record 510 million yen ($3.24 million) for a single bluefin tuna on Monday, shattering all previous prices at Tokyo’s annual New Year tuna auction, according to Reuters. The sale took place at the Toyosu fish market and marked the most expensive tuna ever sold at the iconic event.
The 243-kilogram bluefin was purchased by Kiyomura Corp, which runs the popular Sushizanmai sushi chain. The winning bid far exceeded the company’s own previous record of 333.6 million yen set in 2019, underscoring renewed confidence among buyers despite years of subdued auction prices.
Kiyomura chief executive Kiyoshi Kimura, widely known in Japan as the “Tuna King,” said he hoped the headline-grabbing purchase would lift public spirits. Referring to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s new administration, Kimura said he wanted to support the government’s message of hard work and economic revival, adding that the bid was meant to “cheer everyone up.”
Speaking to reporters after the auction, Kimura said he had expected the final price to land closer to 300 million or 400 million yen but was surprised when it surged past the half-billion mark. The tuna was transported to Sushizanmai’s flagship restaurant, where it was cut up and distributed across the chain’s outlets nationwide.
Despite the astronomical purchase price, Kimura said customers would be able to enjoy the prized tuna at regular menu prices. Reuters reported that the New Year auction, a closely watched tradition in Japan, is often seen as a barometer of sentiment in the seafood industry and the broader economy, making this year’s record bid a symbolic vote of confidence for the year ahead.
