【Tokyo, Japan】243-Kg Fish in Japan Shatters All Auction Records, Price Will Make Your Head Spin

A massive 536-pound (approximately 243 kg) bluefin tuna was sold for ¥510 million at the first auction of the new year at Tokyo’s famous Toyosu Fish Market. In Indian Rupees, this amount is approximately ₹29 crore. With this sale, it has officially become the world’s most expensive tuna sold at a New Year’s auction.

The person who bought this precious fish is Kiyoshi Kimura, the owner of Japan’s famous Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain. Kimura is known for his high bids. Interestingly, this time he broke his own previous record. Back in 2019, he paid around ₹18-19 crore for a tuna, but this year’s figure far surpassed that.

Kimura admitted with a smile after the auction, saying he hadn’t planned to spend such a large amount.

The scene of this auction was also very special. The market opened before sunrise with the sound of bells. Large tuna fish were lined up on the floor, looking like torpedoes. Buyers cut a piece from the tail section to check the meat’s color, texture, and fat content.

This record-breaking tuna came from the Oma region in northern Japan. Oma is known for producing Japan’s finest bluefin tuna, and its fish are considered the ‘gold standard’.

said Kimura.

Although Kimura paid crores for this fish, he has given relief to his customers. According to reports, this giant tuna was taken to Sushi Zanmai’s headquarters to be cut and distributed to their restaurants across the country. Kimura announced that no extra charge would be levied on customers for it, meaning sushi and sashimi would be sold at normal rates.
Pacific bluefin tuna has always been a favorite of sushi lovers, but due to climate change and overfishing, the species had been in danger. However, thanks to conservation efforts, their numbers are slowly recovering. Experts believe this sale is not just a luxury deal but also a ray of hope for the future of tuna.