A Michelin-starred sushi restaurant group has made headlines by spending over a million pounds on a single tuna at the annual New Year auction, achieving the second-highest price ever recorded at the event.
The Onodera Group, renowned for its premium sushi offerings, won the 276kg bluefin tuna with a bid of 207 million yen (£1.2m) during the auction at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.
Weighing as much as a motorbike, the massive tuna was the first to be auctioned in the market’s tradition-rich New Year event. “The first tuna is something meant to bring in good fortune,” said Onodera official Shinji Nagao. “Our wish is that people will eat this and have a wonderful year.”
This marks the fifth consecutive year the Onodera Group has secured the top bid. The purchase price is nearly double the 114 million yen (£660,000) the group spent last year but still falls short of the record set in 2019 when Kiyoshi Kimura, famously known as the “Tuna King,” paid 333.6 million yen (£2m) for a similar catch.
The New Year auction, steeped in tradition and symbolism, is seen as a way to bring good fortune and attract significant media attention. Since its relocation to the modern Toyosu market in 2019 from the historic Tsukiji market, the event has remained a highlight of Tokyo’s culinary scene.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, auction prices plummeted as restrictions on dining out battered the restaurant industry. This year’s steep price signifies a recovery, reflecting renewed confidence in the dining sector and the global appetite for premium sushi.
Bluefin tuna, celebrated for its rich flavor and delicate texture, is both a culinary delicacy and a status symbol in Japanese cuisine. While the auction is largely ceremonial, the sky-high prices paid enhance the prestige of the buyers and their businesses.
