A bluefin tuna roughly the size of a motorcycle has been sold for a staggering $1.3 million (207 million yen) at Tokyo’s Toyosu Fish Market, marking the second-highest price ever recorded at the market’s annual New Year auction.

Michelin-starred restaurateurs secure the coveted catch

The 608-pound (276-kilogram) tuna was purchased by the Onodera Group, a prominent name in fine dining, with its successful million-dollar bid on January 5. Known for its Michelin-starred Sushi Ginza Onodera chain with locations in Tokyo and Los Angeles, the group has become a consistent high bidder at the prestigious auction.

Shinji Nagao, president of Sushi Onodera, emphasized the significance of the purchase, stating, “The year’s first tuna brings good luck. We want to make people smile with food.” This is the fifth consecutive year the Onodera Group has claimed the top-priced tuna, including last year’s $720,000 (114.2 million yen) purchase.

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Historic pricing and prestigious bidding

This year’s sale represents the second-highest price in the market’s history since records began in 1999. The highest bid remains $3.1 million (333.6 million yen) for a 278-kilogram bluefin tuna sold in 2019.

The annual New Year auction holds a special place in Japanese culture, attracting bidders from across the country seeking the honor and prestige of securing the first tuna of the year.

This year’s prized tuna was caught off the coast of Oma in Aomori Prefecture, an area renowned for its premium-quality bluefin tuna. The fisherman behind the catch, 73-year-old Masahiro Takeuchi, expressed his joy, saying, “I’m always worried about how many more years I’ll be able to keep fishing like this.”

Toyosu fish market: A legacy continues

Originally established in 1935 at Tsukiji, Tokyo’s fish market relocated to Toyosu in 2019. The move aimed to modernize facilities, but it also drew criticism for losing Tsukiji’s iconic charm. Despite mixed reactions, Toyosu remains the world’s largest seafood wholesale market and a hub for Japan’s culinary tradition.

The endangered bluefin Tuna

Bluefin tuna, the largest of their species, can weigh up to 1,500 pounds, reach lengths of 10 feet, and live for up to 40 years. However, the species has faced significant population declines due to overfishing and illegal fishing practices.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has classified bluefin tuna as endangered, highlighting the need for sustainable fishing practices to ensure the species’ survival. As the culinary world celebrates this record-breaking sale, it also underscores the urgent call for the conservation of these magnificent ocean giants.