Japanese Sushi Chain Acquires Bluefin Tuna for $3.24 Million at Tokyo Auction

A Japanese sushi chain made headlines on Monday by setting a new record, paying an astonishing $3.24 million (510 million yen) for a single bluefin tuna at Tokyo’s renowned New Year fish auction.

The winning bid came from Kiyomura Corp., the Tokyo-based operator of the popular sushi restaurant chain Sushi Zanmai. This bid surpassed Kiyomura’s previous record of $2.1 million (333.6 million yen) set in 2019.

Kiyomura’s owner, Kiyoshi Kimura, expressed surprise at the final price, stating, “I did not expect to pay so much for the fish, but the price shot up before you knew it.” He had anticipated a winning bid closer to 400 million or 300 million yen but was taken aback when it exceeded 500 million.

STEAK ‘N SHAKE TOUTS $2.50 ‘PATRIOT MILKSHAKE’ TO HONOR AMERICA’S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL

Kiyomura Corp.’s President Kiyoshi Kimura, who runs a chain of sushi restaurants Sushi Zanmai, poses with a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna auctioned for a record 510 million yen ($3.24 million) at the first auction of 2026 at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, a (Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters Photos)

The prized fish was caught off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region renowned for producing some of the finest tuna in the country. It sold for approximately $13,360 (2.1 million yen) per kilogram, translating to about $6,060 per pound.

Kiyomura Corp.’s President Kiyoshi Kimura prepares to cut a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna auctioned for a record 510 million yen ($3.24 million) at the first auction of 2026 at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, at his sushi restaurant in Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 5, (Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters Photos)

“It’s in part for good luck,” Kimura remarked. “But when I see a good looking tuna, I cannot resist … I haven’t sampled it yet, but it’s got to be delicious.”

WHY CHEAPER BEEF PRICES ARE STILL A LONG WAY OFF

The enormous tuna was transported to Sushizanmai’s flagship restaurant, where it was sliced and distributed to locations across the country. Kimura confirmed that the tuna will be served to customers at standard menu prices.

Kiyoshi Kimura cuts meat from a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna auctioned for a record 510 million yen ($3.24 million) at the first auction of 2026 at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, at his sushi restaurant in Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 5, 2026. (Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters Photos)

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“I hope the economy will get better this year. The Takaichi administration pledged to work, work, work, so Sushizanmai will work, work, work too,” Kimura stated, referring to the new government led by Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister. “I hope this bid will cheer everyone up.”

Reuters contributed to this report.

A Japanese sushi chain made headlines on Monday by setting a new record, paying an astonishing $3.24 million (510 million yen) for a single bluefin tuna at Tokyo’s renowned New Year fish auction.

The winning bid came from Kiyomura Corp., the Tokyo-based operator of the popular sushi restaurant chain Sushi Zanmai. This bid surpassed Kiyomura’s previous record of $2.1 million (333.6 million yen) set in 2019.

Kiyomura’s owner, Kiyoshi Kimura, expressed surprise at the final price, stating, “I did not expect to pay so much for the fish, but the price shot up before you knew it.” He had anticipated a winning bid closer to 400 million or 300 million yen but was taken aback when it exceeded 500 million.

STEAK ‘N SHAKE TOUTS $2.50 ‘PATRIOT MILKSHAKE’ TO HONOR AMERICA’S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL

Kiyomura Corp.’s President Kiyoshi Kimura, who runs a chain of sushi restaurants Sushi Zanmai, poses with a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna auctioned for a record 510 million yen ($3.24 million) at the first auction of 2026 at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, a (Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters Photos)

The prized fish was caught off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region renowned for producing some of the finest tuna in the country. It sold for approximately $13,360 (2.1 million yen) per kilogram, translating to about $6,060 per pound.

Kiyomura Corp.’s President Kiyoshi Kimura prepares to cut a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna auctioned for a record 510 million yen ($3.24 million) at the first auction of 2026 at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, at his sushi restaurant in Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 5, (Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters Photos)

“It’s in part for good luck,” Kimura remarked. “But when I see a good looking tuna, I cannot resist … I haven’t sampled it yet, but it’s got to be delicious.”

WHY CHEAPER BEEF PRICES ARE STILL A LONG WAY OFF

The enormous tuna was transported to Sushizanmai’s flagship restaurant, where it was sliced and distributed to locations across the country. Kimura confirmed that the tuna will be served to customers at standard menu prices.

Kiyoshi Kimura cuts meat from a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna auctioned for a record 510 million yen ($3.24 million) at the first auction of 2026 at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, at his sushi restaurant in Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 5, 2026. (Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon / Reuters Photos)

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“I hope the economy will get better this year. The Takaichi administration pledged to work, work, work, so Sushizanmai will work, work, work too,” Kimura stated, referring to the new government led by Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister. “I hope this bid will cheer everyone up.”

Reuters contributed to this report.