The traditional first tuna auction of the year in Japan once again attracted the attention of the whole world. At the Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo, blue-winged tuna was sold at a record price in the first auction of 2026.
We are talking about a giant tuna weighing 243 kilograms: it is valued at 510 million yen, or approximately 3.2 million dollars. Hearing such a figure, you might think, "Is this fish worth more than gold?" - but here we are not talking about ordinary market prices.
"King of the Night" returns to the stage
The highest bid was made by Kiyomura Corp. - this company is headed by Kiyoshi Kimura, known as the "king of the night," who runs the Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain. He has won the early-year auction many times before, and this time he broke his own record set in 2019: the price was 334 million yen.
Kimura himself told reporters, "I was hoping to get it cheaper, but the price went up in the blink of an eye." In short, an auction is a trade, an emotion, and a show.
Why does the first auction of the year always "explode"?
The early-year auction in Toyosu is not a simple sale - for the Japanese, it is, in a sense, a symbol of luck. Therefore, on this day, prices will skyrocket several times over.
Experts also note that record deals do not reflect the average daily price of tuna, but give more symbolic value and an advertising effect. That is, an image of "I have the best" is also sold here.
Where was it caught and why is it valuable?
The sold tuna is said to have been caught near the shores of Oma in northern Japan - this area is known for its highest quality tuna. The report even mentions the price per kilogram: approximately 2.1 million yen.
Conclusion
The New Year's Tuna auction in Tokyo is a large stage where gastronomy, tradition, and business clash in one place. Today's record also showed this: some transactions are made not for the market, but for history. Tomorrow the tuna will be sold even cheaper, but the title "First Record of the Year" will live on.
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