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Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo closes for relocation, marks end of an era in Japan【Pics & Video】

Oona McGee Oct 9, 2018
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Fishmongers, customers and tourists bid a sad farewell to the famous fish market, which was a Tsukiji mainstay for 83 years.

Tsukiji Market is famous for being the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. Located in a huge facility first constructed in 1935 between Ginza and the Sumida River, the famous site has been a hub of activity for fishmongers, customers, and curious tourists for 83 years, but on Saturday, the market closed its doors at its decades-old location, giving up its prime real estate after the government decided to move the market to Toyosu, roughly 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) away.

So it was a sad day when the locals bid farewell to Tsukiji, and people from around the world made the pilgrimage to experience one final taste of the market before it closed the curtain on the end of an era. Photos from the final day captured all the atmosphere that made the market so enticing for so many people.

▼ “Well…it’s the final Tsukiji!”

https://twitter.com/mimatsu_sushi/status/1048328683239272448

As always the day started early, as trucks, forklifts and turret trucks were spotted transporting goods around the facility shortly after midnight before the last opening of business.

築地市場も今日が最後。 pic.twitter.com/MfYNq6zXHP

— 谷津憲郎 (@yatsu_n) October 5, 2018

最後の日でも、人やターレやトラックがせわしく行き交う。 pic.twitter.com/HIHkgPaHZu

— 谷津憲郎 (@yatsu_n) October 5, 2018

こちらも。 pic.twitter.com/I02EGRDY2L

— 谷津憲郎 (@yatsu_n) October 5, 2018

While most people in the city were sound asleep, the market was a hive of activity at 3 a.m.

今日の築地は、ものすごいことになってます。4連休前で、たいへんな物量です。全盛期の築地市場が帰ってきたようです。 pic.twitter.com/ik0rx7BxVk

— 豊洲市場担当記者@日刊食料新聞 (@nikkan_toyosu) October 5, 2018

Then it was time to prepare for the pre-dawn auctions, as fishmongers went about their business inspecting samples, only with a much larger crowd of spectators and photographers on hand to witness the momentous last auction at Tsukiji.

築地市場、最後のマグロ競りの時間が近づいています。例年の初セリと比べると、かなり少ないですね。仰天相場は、あるんでしょうか。あるとしたら、豊洲の一発目のほうじゃないかな。 pic.twitter.com/je88NKXjVV

— 豊洲市場担当記者@日刊食料新聞 (@nikkan_toyosu) October 5, 2018

築地市場、別れの一本締めで、だんだん最後の日の実感が湧いてきたところでしょうか。みんな、なんとも言えない表情を浮かべています。 pic.twitter.com/dD8I7ZOqUk

— 豊洲市場担当記者@日刊食料新聞 (@nikkan_toyosu) October 5, 2018

At 5:20 a.m., the prawn auctions began, and four tonnes of prawns were completely sold in just 50 minutes.

築地市場エビ競り場。

4連休前で五割増しの入荷です。
台風の影響がなくてよかったです。

5時20分から競り開始、これは豊洲市場でも変わりません。

競りの前に記念撮影、盛り上がったあとに築地市場最後の競り開始。

50分で約4トンのエビを競り残すことなく終了しました。#築地水米 pic.twitter.com/l4eJo4qCy2

— 築地水米 (@ebiwassy) October 5, 2018

▼ And then at 6 a.m., it was time for the frozen tuna auction.

午前６時。冷凍マクロのセリ pic.twitter.com/ZqvlyZI9bq

— masaki ikegami 能登半島応援～対話型交流イベント～「ひきこもり大学」5月4日開催 (@chakichakiike) October 5, 2018

Outside, the sun had barely risen when traffic around the market and nearby Namiyoke Inari Shrine came to a standstill as cars attempted to enter parking lots in the area.

築地市場、波除神社前の通りは、駐車場入庫待ちのクルマで、すでに全く動いていません。これからお出かけの方、不要不急の築地来訪は、やめましょ。 pic.twitter.com/unnMgKoaYG

— 豊洲市場担当記者@日刊食料新聞 (@nikkan_toyosu) October 5, 2018

Buses also dropped tourists off at the site, with people lining up in droves at restaurants along the market’s famous Uogashi Yokocho to taste the freshly caught fish.

4時間後。観光客と買い出し客ぎっしりだけど、まだ配達してる店もあるのでお買い物はもう少し待ちます。30分もするとはとバスが来て観光モードも本格化。しかし1日でフレーム組み立ってる。プラモか。 pic.twitter.com/Qrt939BtWA

— 築地の奥さん (@tsukiji_okusan) October 6, 2018

As the morning progressed, it all looked like business as usual, and many found it hard to believe that this was actually the final day at Tsukiji after so many years.

今日の築地は、忙しく、慌ただしく、でも、ふと立ち止まると、なぜか暖かく、優しく、懐かしい。こんんな日が永遠に続いてほしいと思わずにいられない。 pic.twitter.com/vdsYgog1he

— 豊洲市場担当記者@日刊食料新聞 (@nikkan_toyosu) October 5, 2018

But as the market drew to a close around noon on Saturday, the mood was markedly different, as wholesalers said their goodbyes to the small spaces where they had spent so many hours of their working lives.

▼ “Bye for now” can be seen written on the stall in the image on the left-hand side below

築地市場、満ち潮のように、終わりの時が近づいています。右にも、左にも、ありがとう、ありがとう、ただ、それだけ。 pic.twitter.com/DHbz2VIgEb

— 豊洲市場担当記者@日刊食料新聞 (@nikkan_toyosu) October 6, 2018

While many workers expressed sadness at having to move their businesses to Toyosu, they also say they are now hoping to continue sales with their regular clientele at the new location. Some businesses, however, have decided not to make the move and have chosen to close after generations of trading. This has had a ripple effect on other businesses around Tokyo, like one local fishmonger, who decided the change was enough to push forward an early retirement by several years.

Wider repercussions from the #Tsukiji Market move to Toyosu: our local fishmonger closed its doors on Saturday after bringing fresh fish from Tsukiji to our neighbourhood for decades. Enjoyed a final meal of their famed sashimi with friends on their last day 😢#築地 #築地移動 pic.twitter.com/CPdCtjfYUr

— Oona McGee 🇯🇵🇮🇪🇦🇺 (@OonaMcGee) October 8, 2018

The open-air style of Tsukiji Market was one that many stallholders said they liked, given that it allowed them to chat with the other stallholders during the day, creating a casual, community-like feel.

▼ “Sayonara”

さよなら。#tsukijifishmarket #tsukiji #tokyo #japan #築地 #築地市場 https://t.co/gGSkHvFVvT pic.twitter.com/3Pjnz2wOoj

— おとま (@otoma100_hps) October 6, 2018

Unlike the Tsukiji location, the new market will be an indoor facility, with individual booths that workers say will limit interaction with other stallholders. It’s a change that fishmongers and customers will have to adapt to, as they currently move to the new site, which is due to open for business on October 11, and to tourists on October 13 at 10 a.m.

While the details of the Toyosu market site are yet to be revealed, at Tsukiji it’s predicted that the old market facility — which was said to be a concern due to fire safety, sanitation and earthquake resistance issues — will be demolished and transformed into a transport hub for the 2020 Olympics.

Though the old market may be gone, its memory will never be forgotten, and hopefully the outer market will retain its original charm so visitors during the Olympics will be able to experience at least a portion of the market as it once was, when people like Mr Sato visited.

Source: Togetter
Featured image: Twitter/@otoma100HP

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