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Toyosu fish market opens with tuna auction, traffic jams, accidents, and turret truck fire

Oona McGee Oct 12, 2018
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Photos and videos from first day at new fish market in Tokyo show a very different scene to Tsukiji.

On Saturday, the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world moved from its sprawling 83-year-old complex in Tokyo’s Tsukiji to a brand new facility in Toyosu, roughly 2.3 kilometres (1.4 miles) away.

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A post shared by NOUMANN – ノーマン (@noumann.inc)

While many fishmongers were resistant to the relocation, which was deemed necessary by the government due to concerns about fire safety, sanitation and earthquake resistance at the old complex, the move went ahead in memorable fashion. And on Thursday, less than a week after bidding farewell to Tsukiji, the new market at Toyosu began operating ahead of its official opening to the public on 13 October.

▼ Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike was on hand to assist with the festivities.

豊洲市場も一本締めでスタート！#豊洲市場 #豊洲市場ドットコム #小池知事 pic.twitter.com/1AlilzJ6cY

— 井上@ (@uc20001) October 10, 2018

The first day of business turned out to be a day of drama, however, as a turret truck caught fire at the market at approximately 2:50 a.m., shortly before officials and press representatives were due to arrive on site.

▼ Fire trucks could be heard arriving on the scene before dawn.

こんな時間にネイルやってて
パールつけたらロリMAXになってて辛ってなって

0:00に開場したばっかりの豊洲市場が火事で大騒ぎになってて心配で

なんとなく流してた
ドラえもんのび太と新鉄人兵団で号泣してて

真夜中🌉感情渋滞女になってるから寝るわ。 pic.twitter.com/YRudHGjE0z

— etSuko🦁🫶🦄26 (@etsuko_et) October 10, 2018

Inside the facility, announcements revealed that a turret truck was emitting smoke, and people were asked to head to the first floor for safety.

https://twitter.com/ToyosuB/status/1050127226543296513

According to the Tokyo Fire Department, one turret truck was left burnt after the incident, and emergency teams left the scene within 30 minutes without any injuries reported. However, news reports revealed the fire was just one of a number of issues on site in the early hours of the morning, as a woman sustained injuries to both legs after being caught between two turret trucks at approximately 4:00 a.m.

https://twitter.com/yorozya_1/status/1050148738864279553

▼ An ambulance was called to the scene to transport the woman to hospital.

https://twitter.com/nari42613/status/1050120459415502848

Turret trucks and customers move around in close proximity to each other at the market, with this video showing a truck narrowly avoiding an older woman towards the end of the clip.

ターレの平均スピードが築地より劇的に高い！！マジでおっかねえ！#豊洲市場 #豊洲 pic.twitter.com/AOtwq7Rs4b

— 沼田学 (@numa_tamago) October 10, 2018

Following the early morning drama, the day then proceeded with the very first tuna auction at the new facility at 5:30 a.m. Unlike Tsukiji, the fresh and frozen tuna auctions are now held in the same room with a glass partition separating visiting tourists from the bidding vendors.

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A post shared by たつき (@tatsuki_0403)

The highest bid at the first morning’s auction was for a 214-kilogram (472-pound) tuna from Aomori Prefecture’s coastal town of Minmiya, which went for 4.28 million yen (US$38,130.52).

https://www.instagram.com/p/Boxy7kDHtKT/?taken-at=1021335513

However, news reports showed fishmongers commenting on problems with the new auction room at Toyosu, saying it was warmer and more humid than the auction rooms at Tsukiji.

▼ One visitor measured a temperature of 29.5 degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit) in the fourth floor cargo-handling facility.

豊洲市場の４階荷捌き場
これじゃ魚の鮮度も落ちてすぐ腐っちゃうよ pic.twitter.com/ppnjxcEW9L

— 仁尾淳史 (@atsushi_mic) October 10, 2018

And that wasn’t the only complaint from fishmongers and their customers, with many expressing concerns about the traffic encountered at the new location, with cars and trucks coming to a standstill around the facility. Many complained that there just weren’t enough parking spaces available at the new market to accommodate customers.

今朝の豊洲の渋滞状況
これはひどい、、#豊洲市場 pic.twitter.com/t2EgU64PmS

— 山本理恵中央区議会議員 (@yamarie0324) October 11, 2018

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A post shared by Nagata Akira (@nagata__akira)

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A post shared by 和田崇雅 (@wady)

Behind the scenes, there were other problems, as staff worked to fix large pools of water around the complex, which had long been a concern at the market even before it opened.

#豊洲市場 #水溜まり初日から慌てて直してる。そして鮪は溶けている。ゴールドチェーン？www pic.twitter.com/JLNpE0j1dv

— 西川口本左朗 (@1Pwzva4pde1nwFz) October 10, 2018

Workers claim that the drainage at the Toyosu site is insufficient for handling the large volume of water used by market vendors every day.

#豊洲市場水溜まりw pic.twitter.com/r9AdpiXEaf

— 西川口本左朗 (@1Pwzva4pde1nwFz) October 10, 2018

Still, it wasn’t all bad news, as the complex itself proved to be shiny and modern, with cleaner facilities and a more organised layout that makes it much easier to navigate.

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A post shared by 御徒町天ぷら酒処「天正(てんまさ)」 (@tenmasa.tenpura)

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A post shared by 高山陽右 (@bunzo_myougadani)

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A post shared by DJ MAS aka SENJU-FRESH! (@senjufresh)

The escalators and elevators around the multi-level facility make it much more visitor-friendly as well.

豊洲市場の習熟訓練が行われ、メディアの取材や関係者の施設見学が行われている中、「エスカレーターはフジテックなんだ！」とか沸いてるアカウントがこちらです pic.twitter.com/Zb3hx9cdxa

— JP-Super (@jp_super) January 24, 2018

And when the vendors go to check their mailboxes every day, it will definitely be a world away from their old experience.

▼ Tsukiji mailboxes on the left, Toyosu mailboxes on the right.

築地の郵便受けと豊洲の郵便受け😆 pic.twitter.com/xuQ7L9fqYI

— 豊洲市場仲卸おさかなマイスター (@kamekichi2050) October 11, 2018

While change always takes some time to get used to, vendors are hoping for continued business success at the new facility, and these good luck boats aim to steer them towards a bright future.

豊洲の青果部にいる友だちから送ってもらった宝船の画像。テレビ局は大渋滞や違法駐車や築地でゴネてる連中なんか映さずに、晴れの門出をお祝いするこれを紹介してほしい。 pic.twitter.com/kmy3vKYoYx

— 高山良策 (@takayamaryosaku) October 11, 2018

And if the smiles on these fishmongers’ faces are anything to go by, the future for the new fish market certainly looks positive. These intermediate wholesalers said they were thankful for the day’s rainy weather, seeing it as “divine protection” from the gods.

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A post shared by Yoshikatsu Ikuta (@yoshikatsu_ikuta)

In spite of the dramatic events of opening days, fishmongers still have one more day to settle in before the market opens to the general public on 13 October. And then it will be back to business as usual for the world’s largest wholesale fish and seafood market, in its brand new indoor facility not far from TeamLab Planets Toyosu.

Sources: Togetter, Matomedane (1, 2)
Featured image: Instagram/yoshieiloveyou