From ocean to outrageous: Sushi chain pays ₹29 crore for a single tuna in Tokyo

Record tuna dazzles Tokyo auction

The winning bid was placed by Kiyomura Corp, owned by Kiyoshi Kimura, the operator of Japan’s popular Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain. Kimura, a regular headline-maker at the annual auction, surpassed his own previous record from 2019, when he paid ¥334 million (around ₹27-28 crore) for a single tuna, according to Japanese media reports.

Speaking to reporters after the auction, Kimura admitted the final price exceeded his expectations. “I was hoping it would be cheaper,” he said with a smile. “But the price just kept climbing before I knew it.”

The auction began before dawn with the traditional ringing of a bell. Rows of large, torpedo-shaped tuna were laid out across the market floor, their tails neatly sliced off to allow buyers to inspect the flesh. Prospective bidders walked the aisles closely examining colour, texture and fat content before placing their bids, officials at the market said.

The record-breaking tuna was caught off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region renowned for producing some of the country’s finest 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 market auctions hundreds of tuna every morning, prices typically surge during the New Year sale. Tuna sourced from Oma attract especially intense bidding, as the region is widely regarded as the gold standard for bluefin, traders said.

According to reports, the giant tuna was transported directly to Sushi Zanmai’s headquarters, where it was prepared and distributed to the chain’s restaurants across Japan. Despite the extraordinary price, Kimura said customers would not be charged a premium, with sushi and sashimi sold at standard prices.

Pacific bluefin tuna remains a prized ingredient in sushi and sashimi, though decades of overfishing and the impact of climate change previously pushed the species into the threatened category. Conservation measures have helped stocks gradually recover, making the sale not only a symbol of luxury, but also a cautious sign of hope for the future of bluefin tuna populations.