Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market witnessed an extraordinary start to the new year as a massive 243kg bluefin tuna commanded a staggering 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million) during Monday’s inaugural auction, setting an unprecedented price record. The winning bid came from Kiyomura Corp, the parent company of renowned sushi restaurant chain Sushi Zanmai with both domestic and international locations.
Kiyoshi Kimura, the corporation’s president and a perennial participant in these ceremonial auctions, secured the prized specimen through his aggressive bidding strategy. Known throughout the industry as the ‘Tuna King,’ Kimura has established a pattern of breaking his own records during these symbolic January events. Despite expressing surprise at the final price, telling reporters he had anticipated a more moderate outcome, the entrepreneur continued his tradition of premium acquisitions.
This transaction surpasses Kimura’s previous benchmark of 333.6 million yen ($2.1 million) set in 2019, which itself broke his earlier records of 155 million yen in 2013 and 56.5 million yen in 2012. The auction commenced at approximately 05:00 local time, maintaining the tradition of pre-dawn bidding that has become a significant tourist attraction in Tokyo.
Following the acquisition, the bluefin tuna was promptly transported to Kimura’s sushi establishments where master chefs prepared it for immediate consumption. Patrons expressed delight at participating in the auspicious tradition, with one customer telling reporters that consuming the year’s first premium tuna felt like an ideal way to commence the new year.
The Toyosu market’s first auction consistently generates premium prices for bluefin tuna, with last year’s opening specimen fetching 207 million yen from competitor Onodera Group. These ceremonial purchases combine business strategy with cultural tradition, as restaurant chains leverage the publicity while honoring Japan’s deep-rooted seafood heritage.