#Aquaculture / Fisheries

On January 5, 2026, a purple sea urchin from Hakodate, Hokkaido sold for a record-breaking 35 million yen ($228,000) at Tokyo's Toyosu Market - five times last year's record. Learn about Japan's unique New Year auction culture and the $6,500 uni bowl it will become.

At Toyosu Market's 2026 New Year auction, a 243kg Oma bluefin tuna sold for a record ¥510.3 million ($3.2M). Learn why Japan's "ichiban maguro" tradition commands such astronomical prices and what it means for fishermen, businesses, and Japanese food culture.