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Fishmongers mourn closure of famous Tokyo fish market

18 Comments
By Mari Saito

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18 Comments
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I hope the protesters and and the fish business win and keep the market. Tsukiji Market is definitely a great treasure of Tokyo. I'm sure many people around the world have great memories of that place.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

New Toyosu market will not have "oriental chaotic atmosphere" which westerners enjoyed. The new market is westernized.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Its a rat trap baby!

...and you’ve been caught.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

I don't see why they couldn't just invest the money to rebuild tsukiji. The city obviously had the funds as they bought new land.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

@juminRhee - I don't see why they couldn't just invest the money to rebuild tsukiji. The city obviously had the funds as they bought new land.

The site is too small and too run down to even consider refurbishing it. Plus, even if it were logistically and economically plausible, they could not close the market to refurbish it because they have no alternative site for the interim while the reconstruction took place.

I wonder how the rat catchers are getting on.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

One less place for Tourists to visit.

And as for the Fish being sold at the new market on top of the Old Gas works, I wouldn't be surprised to read later about some poisons being found in fish bought from there, either as a deliberate act of sabotage, or indeed from the general malaise of the area.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Disillusioned, Surely you know that the entire Tokyo station was rebuilt in place. It could be/could have been done with Tsukiji as well. WIth a completely new facility, made humane with an international competition, the rats and other annoyances could be controlled and the open social space remain.

Nope, the real reason is Ishihara and his cronies are greedy old men who could care less for the uniqueness and wonderfulness of Tsukiji jonai, and least of all for the workers. Overwhelming numbers of tourists could have been regulated, but with no will and no imagination, the bureaucrats seem to have won.

It is heartbreaking. The new site will, I predict:

--go out of business as not enough will visit as it is not interesting or unique and is hard to get to. The current Tsukiji jonai site is completely inconvenient.

--go out of business when the next huge earthquake liquifies the landfill that is this island.

---go out of business when the accompanying tsunami floods the site.

I really feel so sorry for the workers about to enter this dismal prison.

See everyone next Thursday when it opens. I am going to see for myself if there is anything to refute my dread.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

If it isn't broken, don't fix it. I really fail to see the logic of this relocation.

I think that in 30 years time, the city will be regretting this, asking why such a treasure was lost.

Chuo-Ku has had enough civic vandalism.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

I've never been to an auction at Tsukiji, just to eat sushi/sashimi at some of the great places there. I agree with those who said to refurbish the old place. Of course it could have been done, while staying open. Cleaned up, sanitized, and still kept the old fashioned ambience and just plain out greatness of Tsukiji. People all over the world know about Tsukiji.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

More than 80 percent of Tsukiji fish traders are opposed to the move, said a survey by a group fighting the relocation.

Seems to be a familiar story, the small person is just ignored and have no say in the matter.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

They should have been protesting like this years ago...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

to demolish such a treasure for olympic parking? brought out the subject of rats for sanitize reason?

what a joke. sure will miss tsukiji, one of my favorite place to visit in tokyo. so sad to see it disappear.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Who owned the land? Was all the shops renting? Did the government buy them out and or give them a space at the new market?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Patricia Yarrow - Disillusioned, Surely you know that the entire Tokyo station was rebuilt in place. It could be/could have been done with Tsukiji as well.

Is that so? Are you an architect or engineer? You are talking about two completely different structures with completely different needs and purposes. People traffic is easy to control, but the thousands of vehicles and thousands of tons of fish that go in and out of Tsukiji every day are not easily controlled. Plus, all the vendors would have to be compensated for any closures and inconveniences. It’s just not logistically or economically viable, regardless of what you think from behind your computer screen.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I have such fond memories of this amazing fish market. I was in Tokyo on a business trip, and a dear friend suggested that we go together at 5:30AM to have sushi at Tsukiji. I thought sushi at 5AM. Hmm, worth a try.

So, with my friend as a guide we arrived around 5:45, and waited in a reasonably long line. What amazing sushi! And, I think I only paid 3000¥.

Then we wondered around this hyper-busy place to simply enjoy the spectacle of people purchasing fish. This was in 2003, so yes, an unforgettable experience.

My wife and I have returned to Japan several times since as tourists, and spending a few days in Tokyo, and as well, visiting Tsukiji was always on our itinerary.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

gogogo: The wholesale/jonai land is owned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. That is why the TMG can boot the market off to other land they own in the landfill that is the Toyosu site.

Do the hustle: yes, I do have architectural training. Your point? I am quite aware of the difference between the two sites. The problem of rebuilding in place is not insurmountable, as you imply. Just look at all the money the TMG has already spent to simply pump ground water out of Toyosu. That water is going to come back and need removal on a continual basis. See anything wrong here?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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