In One Ear: Auspicious tuna

Published 6:00 am Thursday, January 15, 2026

The “Tuna King,” Kiyoshi Kimura, entrepreneur and president of Kiyomura Corp., which operates the sushi restaurant chain Sushizanmai, has done it again, according to the Taipei Times. 

On Jan. 6, he paid a record $3.2 million for a 536-pound bluefin tuna (almost $6,000 a pound) at the annual new year auction at a fish market in Tokyo. The previous high was $2.1 million for a 613-pound bluefin in 2019. Last year’s top bid was $1.3 million for a 608-pound bluefin.

That being said, shortly after this year’s auction, the tuna was butchered and turned into sushi, which sold for about $3 per roll.

“I’d thought we would be able to buy a little cheaper, but the price soared before you knew it,” Kimura said. “I was surprised at the price … I hope that by eating auspicious tuna, as many people as possible will feel energized.” (Photo: Sushizanmai Official)