A colossal 535-pound bluefin tuna fetched a record-breaking ¥510 million at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market's first auction of 2026. Kiyomura Corp's Kiyoshi Kimura, owner of Sushi Zanmai, made the winning bid, surpassing his own 2019 record. The prized fish, sourced from Oma, Japan, signifies a hopeful recovery for the species.

A massive 535-pound bluefin tuna turned heads at Tokyo’s famous Toyosu fish market, selling for an eye-watering ¥510 million at the very first auction of 2026. That’s roughly ₹28–29 crore in Indian money - and yes, it officially makes this the most expensive tuna ever sold at the New Year auction.The winning bid came from a familiar name. Kiyomura Corp, owned by Kiyoshi Kimura, the face behind Japan’s hugely popular Sushi Zanmai chain, once again walked away with the prized fish. Kimura has a habit of making headlines at these auctions, and this year he outdid even himself. He beat his own 2019 record, when he paid ¥334 million (around ₹18–19 crore) for a single tuna.After the auction, Kimura admitted he hadn’t planned to go that high.

“I was hoping it would be cheaper,” he told reporters with a smile. “But the price just kept climbing before I knew it.”The auction itself kicked off before sunrise, starting with the ringing of a bell. The market floor was lined with enormous, torpedo-shaped tuna, all laid out in neat rows. Their tails were sliced off so buyers could take a close look, checking the colour of the flesh, the texture, and how fatty the fish was, all while walking up and down the aisles.

This record-breaking tuna came from the waters near Oma in northern Japan, a place famous for producing some of the country’s best bluefin. “Buying it is partly about good luck,” Kimura said. “But honestly, when I see a tuna this beautiful, I just can’t stop myself. I haven’t tasted it yet, but I know it’s going to be incredible.”

While Toyosu sells hundreds of tuna every single morning, prices hit another level during the New Year auction.

And when the fish is from Oma, the bidding gets even more intense, it’s considered the gold standard of bluefin.Reports say the giant tuna was taken straight to Sushi Zanmai’s headquarters, where it was cut up and sent to the brand’s restaurants across Japan. Despite the staggering price tag, Kimura said customers won’t be charged extra, the sushi and sashimi will be sold at the usual rates.Pacific bluefin tuna has long been a favourite for sushi and sashimi, but years of overfishing and climate change once pushed the species into the threatened category. Thanks to conservation efforts, stocks are slowly recovering. So this legendary fish isn’t just a luxury purchase, it also represents a small but hopeful sign for the future of bluefin tuna.This sale shows just how prized bluefin tuna is in Japan. It also highlights the care needed to protect this species for the future. For sushi lovers, it’s a reminder of the rare and special nature of these fish.