Japanese sushi chain drops $3.2 million on 535-pound bluefin tuna

A Japanese sushi chain paid a whopping $3.2 million for a bluefin tuna fish weighing over 535 pounds at the country’s Toyosu fish market.

The company, Kiyomura Co., shared on social media that the owners bought the Pacific bluefin tuna at the famous Tokyo market. The sale was the first auction of 2026.

Kiyomura Co. confirmed it paid about $3.2 million for the fish, or 510.3 million yen. One of last year’s buyers, Onodera Group, paid $1.3 million for a 608-pound tuna.

Kiyomura Co. said in its post that in Japan, those who take part in the first auction of the year wish for good fortune, peace and happiness.

According to Reuters, Kiyomura Co. beat its own record of $2.13 million (333.6 million yen) in 2019.

Kiyomura Co. President Kiyoshi Kimura, known as the “Tuna King,” told reporters on Jan. 5 that he expected a different outcome, per Reuters.

“I thought that (the winning bid) would come in a little bit lower, maybe around 400 million or 300 million yen but it turned out to be over 500 million,” he said.

Last year’s bid: A bluefin tuna weighs over 600 pounds. A company just paid $1.3 million for it.

Origins of the gigantic fish, details on Pacific bluefish tuna

According to Kiyomura Co., the massive fish hails from Oma, a small town located on the northernmost tip of Japan’s main island of Honshu. The town is known for its bluefin tuna, according to JapanTravel.

The seafood trade at Toyosu Market in Tokyo is the largest wholesale fish market in the world, per its website. According to organizers, between 1,400 and 1,700 tons of seafood are sold at the market each day.

Pacific bluefin tuna reach maturity at 5 years old and can live up to 26 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. Their average lifespan is about 15 years.

Adult Pacific bluefin tuna typically measure 4-feet-11 inches long and weigh about 130 pounds, and the maximum reported length and weight for Pacific bluefin tuna is 9.8 feet long and 990 pounds.

‘I hope this bid will cheer everyone up’

The sale comes the same day Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda announced plans to continue raising interest rates if wages and prices rise, per Reuters.

“Wages and prices are highly likely to rise together moderately,” Ueda said, noting that the increased interest rates in Japan will help grow the country’s economy.

According to Reuters, Ueda said higher U.S. tariffs contributed to a decline in Japan’s corporate profits, although the country’s economy was able to moderately recover.

Kiyomura Co., which placed the winning bid for the 535-pound fish this week, announced plans to host a tuna-cutting show at the company’s main Sushi Zanmai restaurant on Jan. 5, and then have staff deliver the tuna to other locations.

The company said it planned to limit customers to one piece per person at the regular price so as many customers as possible could enjoy the tuna.

“I hope the economy will get better this year,” said Kimura, the company’s owner. “I hope this bid will cheer everyone up.”

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bluefin tuna sold for $3.2 million at Tokyo auction