Bluefin Tuna sells for record $3.2 million at Tokyo’s first fish auction of 2026

A record-breaking sale at Tokyo’s famed Toyosu Fish Market has stunned seafood traders and spectators alike, as a massive bluefin tuna fetched an unprecedented price during the first auction of 2026, 24NewsHD TV reported.

The giant tuna, weighing 243 kilograms (535 pounds), was sold for 510 million yen, equivalent to approximately $3.2 million or nearly Rs900 million in Pakistani currency, making it the most expensive tuna ever sold at auction.

According to the Associated Press, the early-morning auction on Monday saw intense bidding, with the highest offer placed by Kiyomura Corporation, a well-known seafood company headed by Kiyoshi Kimura.

Kimura is the owner of Japan’s famous sushi restaurant chain “Sushi Zanmai.”

Kimura is no stranger to headline-making purchases, having repeatedly secured the top bid in the New Year’s first tuna auctions. However, this year’s purchase surpassed his own previous record, set in 2019, when he bought a bluefin tuna for 334 million yen.

The annual New Year auction at Toyosu Market is considered a symbol of good fortune and prosperity in Japan’s seafood industry, often drawing global attention for its extraordinary prices and cultural significance.