Bluefin tuna sells for record $3.2 million at year-opening auction at Tokyo fish market

TOKYO (AP) — A 243-kilogram (535-pound) bluefin tuna sold for a record 510 million yen ($3.2 million) at the first auction of 2026 at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market.

The top bidder for the prized tuna at the predawn auction on Monday was Kiyomura Corp., whose owner Kiyoshi Kimura runs the popular Sushi Zanmai chain.

Kimura, who has often won the annual action in the past, broke the previous record of 334 million yen ($2.1 million) he set in 2019.

The pricey fish was caught off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region widely regarded for producing some of the country’s finest tuna, and costs 2.1 million yen ($13,360) per kilogram ($6,060 per pound).

Hundreds of tuna are sold daily at the early morning auction, but prices are significantly higher than usual for the Oma tuna, especially at the celebratory New Year auction.

Due to the popularity of tuna for sushi and sashimi, Pacific bluefin tuna was previously a threatened species, but its stock is recovering following conservation efforts.

Wholesalers inspect bluefin tuna at the New Year's tuna auction at Toyosu fish market in Tokyo, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Wholesalers inspect bluefin tuna at the New Year's tuna auction at Toyosu fish market in Tokyo, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A bluefin tuna that won the highest bid at the annual New Year auction is carried to a Sushi Zanmai restaurant in Tokyo, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Kiyoshi Kimura, president of Kiyomura Co., poses with the bluefin tuna that won the highest bid at the annual New Year auction in Tokyo, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Members of the press take photographs of a bluefin tuna that won the highest bid at the annual New Year auction displayed at Sushi Zanmai restaurant in Tokyo, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Detroit Tigers placed left-handed reliever Brant Hurter on the 15-day injured list with lumbar spine inflammation.

The team announced the move, which was retroactive to May 23, prior to Sunday's split doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles.

Hurter left Friday night's game against the Orioles in the fifth inning after a pitch to Tyler O'Neill. He is 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 21 games in his third season.

Detroit recalled right-hander Ricky Vanasco from Triple-A Toledo. Vanasco is 0-1 with a 14.54 ERA in four games with the Tigers this season.

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Detroit Tigers' Brant Hurter pitches against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)