TOKYO, Japan — In a spectacular display of culinary prestige and economic optimism, Japanese sushi magnate Kiyoshi Kimura shattered records on Monday by purchasing a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna for ¥510.3 million ($3.2 million) at Tokyo’s annual New Year auction. The unprecedented bid at Toyosu fish market surpassed the previous 2019 record of ¥333.6 million, marking the highest price paid since tracking began in 1999.
The colossal specimen, caught off Japan’s northern coast, was swiftly processed into sushi at Kimura’s Sushizanmai restaurant chain, where customers paid approximately ¥500 ($3) per roll. Diners described the experience as transcendent, with 19-year-old Minami Sugiyama calling it an “auspicious” start to the year and Shinto priest Kiyoshi Nishimura praising its natural sweetness and rich texture without needing soy sauce.
This record-breaking transaction signals a dramatic recovery from pandemic-era slumps when auction prices plummeted due to restaurant restrictions. Dave Gershman of Pew Charitable Trusts’ international fisheries team noted the sale coincides with improving Pacific bluefin stocks that were once “near collapse.” He attributed this progress to a 2017 recovery plan and called for international fisheries managers to establish a long-term sustainable management strategy in 2026 to ensure continued population health.
The auction not only reflects market dynamics but also cultural traditions, as the first tuna of the year is considered a symbol of prosperity and good fortune in Japanese culinary culture.