A rare fish auction in Japan has shocked the world. In Tokyo, buyers paid a record $3.24 million (around Rs 29 crore) for a single fish, showing the huge demand for premium seafood.
The sale happened on Monday at the famous Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo. A 243-kilogram bluefin tuna arrived at the auction and quickly drew attention. After intense bidding, Kiyoshi Kimura, president of the Kiyomura company, bought the fish for the record price.
Why did the price reach such a high level?
Kiyoshi Kimura runs the popular Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain. He often buys the top fish at the year’s first auction to boost his brand image. Such purchases attract global media attention and act as powerful promotion.
Japanese tradition also plays a key role. Many believe that buying fish at the first auction of the year brings good luck and success. This belief pushes bidders to offer very high prices.
What makes this tuna special?
Fishermen caught the bluefin tuna off the Oma coast, which is famous for high-quality tuna. Cold waters in this region increase the fish’s fat content and improve its taste. These tuna usually weigh between 200 and 300 kilograms and rank among the best in the world.
Even after paying such a huge amount, restaurant owners sell the tuna to customers at regular prices. The real gain comes from the publicity and prestige linked to the record-breaking purchase.
Once again, Japan has shown how tradition, marketing, and love for seafood can turn a single fish into global news.
A Japanese sushi restaurant bid $3.24 million (510 million yen) for a single bluefin tuna, the highest price ever paid, at the annual New Year auction at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market https://t.co/qhK9vTK2CU pic.twitter.com/a6BnLuyRjb
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 5, 2026
For more latest updates, click here.
