Sushizanmai Owner Sets New Record with $3.24M Bluefin at Toyosu New Year Auction
Kiyomura Corp. paid a record ¥510 million ($3.24 million) for a roughly 535-pound bluefin at Toyosu's 2026 New Year auction, bought by Kiyoshi Kimura Monday.
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Overview
Kiyomura Corp., operator of Sushi Zanmai, owned by sushi entrepreneur Kiyoshi Kimura, won the top bid at Toyosu's predawn New Year tuna auction.
The prized Pacific bluefin, caught off Oma and weighing about 535–536 pounds, sold for a record ¥510 million (reported $3.24 million), topping Kimura's 2019 bid.
The sale occurred during Tokyo's Toyosu fish market New Year auction in early 2026, where bidders inspect flesh color, texture and fattiness before bidding.
The high price underscores Japan's premium sushi market, the cultural prominence of New Year auctions, and strong consumer demand for elite-quality tuna from Oma.
The giant tuna was taken to Sushizanmai headquarters, sliced and distributed across the chain's restaurants nationwide; Pacific bluefin stocks show signs of recovery under conservation measures.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story by emphasizing the cultural and economic significance of the auction, highlighting Kiyoshi Kimura's role as a prominent figure in the event. Language choices like "record-breaking" and "auspicious" underscore the spectacle and tradition. The focus on Kimura's repeated high bids and the tuna's quality suggests a narrative of prestige and prosperity.