Record 535-pound bluefin tuna sells for 510 million yen at Tokyo auction

At Tokyo's Toyosu market, a record 535-pound Pacific bluefin tuna sold for 510 million yen ($3.2 million) in the first 2026 auction, signaling strong demand.

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

Kiyomura Corp., led by Sushi Zanmai founder Kiyoshi Kimura, topped the bidding at Toyosu market's first 2026 tuna auction, securing the prized Pacific bluefin.

Price and comparison: A 510 million yen sale marked a new record, with analysts noting rare size and quality factors driving the premium.

Auction process: Bidders examined color and texture on the floor as torpedo-shaped tuna lay with tails cut off, inspecting for freshness and quality.

Context: Prices for Oma tuna remain high during New Year daily auctions, reflecting strong demand despite conservation concerns and rising consumption.

Conservation note: Pacific bluefin tuna had faced overfishing pressure and climate change, but recovery has been aided by conservation measures and fisheries management.

Written using shared reports from

3 sources

Report issue

Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

Center-leaning sources depict the Tokyo tuna auction as a sensational, prestige-driven market moment rather than a policy issue. They emphasize a record price, the celebrity owner, and the Oma region's quality, while offering minimal scrutiny of sustainability concerns, and framing the event as tradition and spectacle that underlines consumer appetite for luxury sushi.

How we categorize media bias