243 kg fish sold for Rs 28.7 crore in Tokyo, expected to cost Rs 11 lakh/kg in eateries. See pics

Kiyoshi Kimura (C), president of Kiyomura Corp., the Tokyo-based operator of sushi restaurant chain Sushizanmai, displays a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna at his main restaurant in Tokyo on January 5, after the New Year's auction at Toyosu fish market. (Image credit: AFP)

A massive bluefin tuna weighing 243 kg—roughly the size and weight of a bike—was sold for a record 510.3 million yen (about Rs 28.7 crore) at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market during its annual New Year auction. The winning bidder was sushi chain owner Kiyoshi Kimura, popularly known as Japan’s “Tuna King.”  The fish is expected to sell for up to Rs 11 lakh per kg once it is served at his restaurants.

Kimura, who operates the Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain under Kiyomura Corp, outbid rivals to secure the prized fish. The purchase shattered his own previous record from 2019, when he paid about $2.1 million (Rs 17 crore) for a 278 kg tuna.

Speaking after the auction, Kimura said: “It’s in part for good luck. But when I see a good-looking tuna, I cannot resist. I haven’t sampled it yet, but it’s got to be delicious."

A member of staff holds up a head of a 243-kilogram bluefin tuna at the sushi restaurant 'Sushizanmai' in Tokyo after the New Year's auction at Toyosu fish market. (Image credit: AFP)

Prestige of bluefin tuna

In Japan, bluefin tuna is considered a symbol of status and prestige, often reserved for high-rolling clientele. According to the Fish Society, it remains one of the most sought-after delicacies in the country’s culinary culture.

The record-setting tuna was caught off the coast of Oma in Aomori prefecture, a region renowned for producing some of Japan’s finest fish, the New York Post reported. Tuna from Oma consistently fetches higher prices due to the area’s unique mix of cold and warm currents that nurture premium-quality seafood.

Participants look at tuna as wholesale sellers and buyers attend the first tuna auction of the New Year at Toyosu fish market in Tokyo. (Image credit: AFP)

Going head-to-head with rival bidders

The annual auction is known for fierce competition between leading sushi chains. Last year, the Onodera Group, which operates several Michelin-starred restaurants, claimed a 608-pound tuna. The group has often gone head-to-head with Kimura, shelling out some of the highest bids in recent years.