Business05 January, 20262 min read
Kiyoshi Kimura Pays Record ¥510 Million for 243-Kilogram Bluefin Tuna at Tokyo's Toyosu Market
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
The first auction of 2026 occurred at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market A 243-kilogram bluefin tuna sold for a record 510 million yen
9 outlets told this the same way.
New Year tuna auction
At the predawn first auction of 2026 at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market, Kiyomura Corp., run by Sushi Zanmai owner Kiyoshi Kimura, paid a record 510 million yen (about $3.2 million) for a 243-kilogram (535-lb) Pacific bluefin tuna caught off Oma. The purchase broke Kimura's own previous auction high of 334 million yen set in 2019 and was reported across international outlets as the top bid of the New Year’s celebratory sale. Coverage consistently notes the fish’s weight, the record price, and Kimura as the winning bidder, emphasizing the auction’s high-profile, ceremonial timing.
“A 243-kilogram (535‑lb) bluefin tuna sold for a record 510 million yen (about $3.2 million) at the first 2026 auction at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.”
Oma tuna auction
Buyers and reporters described the tuna as an Oma-caught, torpedo-shaped fish inspected with tails removed so bidders could assess color, texture and fattiness. It fetched roughly 2.1 million yen per kilogram (about $13,360 per kg).
Outlets describe the predawn ritual of buyers checking rows of tail-cut tuna, a practice emphasized in regionally diverse coverage. Several reports convert the per-kilogram price for international readers and note that Oma tuna command particularly high prices at the celebratory New Year sale.
Kimura's auction remarks
Kiyoshi Kimura's comments were reported across outlets. He said he had hoped to pay less and that the price 'shot up' before you knew it. Several reports add that the purchase was partly for good luck.
“Kimura said he’d hoped to pay less but ‘the price shot up,’ adding the purchase is partly for good luck.”
The Associated Press cites Kimura saying he couldn't resist a 'good-looking' fish. Other sources paraphrase his surprise at how quickly the bidding rose. Those on-the-record remarks are the primary personal explanation offered in coverage.
Record bluefin sale context
Beyond the immediate sale, some outlets placed the record bid in broader context. The Associated Press and CityNews noted the sale took place amid New Year's festivities, when prices are often elevated.
They also reported that Pacific bluefin stocks, once threatened by overfishing and climate change, are showing signs of recovery after conservation efforts. El-Balad and other regional outlets highlighted bluefin's cultural and commercial importance in Japan while still acknowledging recovery and ongoing threats.
Tuna auction coverage differences
Coverage shows variation in topical focus and occasional off-topic inclusion. Most outlets report only the auction details, price-per-kilo and Kimura's quotes.
“Several teams reshuffled their rosters. San Diego State transfer Danny O’Neil, Southern Illinois transfer Hunter Simmons and freshman Carter Smith each started multiple games after an injury to Edwards.”
At least one listed source (bastillepost) contains unrelated sports transfer coverage and does not report on the tuna sale. That contrast highlights editorial selection: some publishers stick closely to the Toyosu auction story, while others pair it with environmental, cultural or globalized price conversions for their audiences.
