So, what’s the going rate for a fish these days? If you’re the Onodera Group, the answer is a jaw-dropping ¥207 million (about $1.4 million). At Tokyo’s Toyosu Market, this 276-kg (608-lb) bluefin tuna from Aomori’s famed Ōma waters didn’t just swim into history—it leaped into the annals of luxury dining, courtesy of Onodera’s relentless pursuit of the perfect sashimi.
Now, if that figure sounds staggering, cast your mind back to 2019, when Japan’s “Tuna King” Kiyoshi Kimura shelled out $3.1 million for a slightly heftier fish. While Onodera’s catch is far from a record-breaker, it’s safe to say this tuna still commands the kind of price tag that would make most wallets faint.
This marks Onodera’s sixth win at the New Year’s tuna auction, making them something of a dynasty in the seafood sweepstakes. The prized fish will grace menus at 13 of Onodera’s high-end sushi joints across Japan, the U.S., and beyond, including the Michelin-acclaimed Ginza Onodera restaurants [JP]. Fans of conveyor belt sushi can also rejoice—this luxury tuna will spin its way onto plates at select Kaitenzushi locations, proving that even sushi for the masses can occasionally go haute.
And because one fish is never enough, other catches from the auction will make their way to Onodera’s partner restaurants and even pop up at events like the Isetan Shinjuku gourmet fair.
Bottom line: Onodera’s tuna isn’t just food; it’s a statement. And at $1.4 million, it’s the most delicious flex you’re unlikely to taste unless your wallet swims in deep waters.
Image: Onodera Group [JP].
