(Voice actor) Ms.Marilyn Lo

Tokyo’s fish market was originally in Nihonbashi. Several fish wholesalers gathered and provided Tokyo citizen’s meals. But on September 1st, 1923, a massive earthquake occurred in Kanto causing fires to break out, and burned down most of Tokyo. There were 105,000 deaths, most which were around Tokyo and Kanagawa. This was the Great Kanto earthquake. The Nihonbashi fish market had devastating damage from the earthquake. Three months later, a temporary market was opened on a site loaned by the Navy. This is the beginning of the modern-day Tsukiji Shijo. And in 1935, Tsukiji Shijo opened in its current location. Tsukiji Shijo is divided into the Jonai Shijo, the inner market, and the Jogai Shijo, the outer market. Jonai Shijo is a professionals’ workplace, where fish are sold wholesale and are auctioned off by brokers. The famous tuna auction is conducted here. The sight of an array of tunas weighing over 100 kilograms and prices being negotiated is a must-see. This scene is popular, and tourists visit to observe it when the market is open. Now there is an admission restriction as there were too many tourists, making it difficult to hold the auctions. To observe, one needs to go to Tsukiji early. The mornings at Tsukiji Shijo start early. Fish start getting delivered before the sun rises and the preparation for the auction begins. The reception for observing the tuna auctions starts at 5am, but the preparation begins even before that. And the auction finishes in the morning. Jonai Shijo itself closes early as well and is quiet by the afternoon. On the other hand, Jogai Shijo is a shipping area that deals with the general public. There are about 400 stores. About 100 of those are restaurants. These restaurants’ ingredients are mostly purchased in Tsukiji, so the freshness is off the charts. Many restaurants serve fish just auctioned off, so there are many tourists. While Tsukiji Shijo is bustling, a plan to relocate the market came up in the 1970s. A plan to relocate to Toyosu, Koto ward, was moving forward, but there were many people who wanted to protect the tradition of Tsukiji, and the plan was stalled. But Tokyo Governor Koike decided its relocation to Toyosu. Tsukiji’s redevelopment will go on simultaneously. Old houses remain among the rows of high-rise buildings in Tsukiji. Tsukiji Shijo has a characteristic like no other markets. What is that characteristic?