Yamayuki tuna is a premium Japanese bluefin tuna sourced from Toyosu Market in Tokyo.
The Bluefin Tuna Trusted by Japan’s Top Sushi Chefs
When talking about premium Japanese tuna, one name inevitably stands out: Yamayuki.
Yamayuki is not simply a seafood supplier. It is a legendary tuna wholesaler based at Toyosu Market in Tokyo, trusted by some of the finest sushi restaurants in Japan—and increasingly, around the world.
What Makes Yamayuki Tuna Special?
Unlike many wholesalers who judge tuna mainly by appearance, Yamayuki is known for prioritizing flavor above all else.
Each tuna is carefully evaluated based on:
- Fat quality and balance
- Texture and mouthfeel
- Umami development after aging
Only tuna that meets Yamayuki’s strict standards is distributed to professional chefs. This commitment to taste—not just size or visual appeal—is why Yamayuki tuna is so highly respected among sushi artisans.
The Star of Japan’s New Year Tuna Auctions
Every January, Toyosu Market hosts the famous New Year’s first tuna auction, a deeply symbolic event in Japanese food culture.
Yamayuki frequently purchases the top bluefin tuna at these auctions, sometimes for astonishing prices reaching tens of millions of yen. These record-breaking bids are not merely publicity—they reflect Yamayuki’s confidence in the tuna’s exceptional quality and its role as a “good luck fish” for the coming year.
For sushi chefs, serving tuna sourced by Yamayuki is a statement of pride and dedication to excellence.
From Toyosu to the World Stage
Yamayuki tuna has also captured international attention.
In 2025, Shohei Ohtani famously arranged a special team dinner for the Los Angeles Dodgers, featuring a traditional Japanese tuna cutting demonstration using Yamayuki bluefin tuna.
The event impressed players and staff alike, showcasing not only the flavor of Japanese tuna but also the craftsmanship and culture behind it. This moment symbolized how Japanese food traditions are now being celebrated on a global stage.
Why Top Sushi Chefs Choose Yamayuki
For professional sushi chefs, tuna is not just an ingredient—it is the foundation of trust between chef and guest.
Yamayuki tuna is chosen because:
- It performs exceptionally well for sushi and sashimi
- Its fat melts cleanly without heaviness
- It allows precise aging and knife work
- Its flavor remains stable from the first bite to the last
This reliability is why Yamayuki continues to supply Japan’s most demanding sushi counters.
More Than Tuna — A Philosophy of Taste
Yamayuki represents a philosophy deeply rooted in Japanese culinary values:
respect for ingredients, uncompromising standards, and craftsmanship refined over decades.
To understand Yamayuki tuna is to understand why Japanese sushi is admired worldwide—not for extravagance, but for balance, precision, and depth of flavor.
Final Thoughts
When you encounter tuna sourced by Yamayuki, you are not simply tasting bluefin tuna.
You are experiencing the result of expert selection, market tradition, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
This is why Yamayuki tuna continues to define the gold standard of Japanese maguro.
For sushi chefs, Yamayuki tuna is not chosen for its name alone, but for its consistency and reliability at the counter. Each piece responds precisely to knife work, aging, and temperature control, allowing chefs to present tuna at its ideal moment. This level of trust is built over decades of experience at Toyosu Market, where Yamayuki has refined its ability to select tuna that performs beautifully in real service. In a cuisine where small differences define excellence, Yamayuki tuna enables chefs to focus on craftsmanship, balance, and the guest’s experience—rather than uncertainty about the ingredient itself.
If you’re visiting Tokyo and looking for an authentic sushi experience, we invite you to enjoy a carefully crafted omakase at Sushi Shutatsu in Ogikubo.
Our chef prepares each piece using traditional Edo-style techniques, premium ingredients from Toyosu Market, and warm Japanese hospitality.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing the true taste of Tokyo sushi.
