TOKYO: On Sunday, the Onodera Group, renowned for its Michelin-starred sushi restaurants, paid a record ¥207 million ($1.3 million) for a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna at the annual New Year auction held at Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo. This marks the second-highest price ever paid at the event, with the Onodera Group claiming the top bid for the fifth consecutive year. In contrast, the best bluefin tuna at the 2024 auction was sold for ¥114 million, a significant drop from this year’s price.

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The winning bid was placed by Yamayuki Co., an intermediary wholesale company, on behalf of Onodera Group. “It was the freshest tuna available,” said Yukitaka Yamaguchi, president of Yamayuki, referring to the fish caught off the coast of Oma in Aomori Prefecture. Yamaguchi also expressed hope that the auction result could bring positivity to the disaster-affected areas of the Noto Peninsula.

The prized tuna will be served at Onodera Group’s high-end Ginza Onodera restaurants and its Nadaman eateries. Shinji Nagao, an Onodera official, explained that the first tuna of the year is symbolic of good fortune, adding that they hope it brings a prosperous year to those who enjoy it.

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The highest price ever recorded at the auction was ¥333.6 million in 2019, paid by Kiyoshi Kimura, the “Tuna King” and owner of the Sushi Zanmai chain. This auction marked a milestone as it was the first held in Toyosu after moving from Tsukiji.

-Agencies