Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Tsukiji Fish Market
This is actually called the Central Wholesale Market, so there is a great deal of fruit and veg here as well, but the main tourist attraction is the fish market. If you get here at 5am you can watch the auction itself (Who thinks we got up that early?!). We made it for just after 8, so we missed the early excitement but we were still able to find the largest fish either of us have ever seen being wheeled around on large trolleys. Vegetarians and the squeamish may wish to change channels now.....You are quite free to wander around the market and watch these giant fish being ‘prepared’ for restaurants (ie. cut into smaller pieces using 6ft long knives). Nobody seems to mind spectators as long as you get out of the way when they need to get past. We met a Canadian who was being shown around by a local, so we discovered that nothing much goes to waste. The fish we were watching was apparently on it’s way to the finest sushi restaurants in the city, and the ‘speciality’ parts from the head of a single fish (meat from the cheeks, a couple of other bits and, er, the eyes) would cost £80 just in the market.
The most amusing sight are the market inspectors. They are all walking around in spotless white coats checking (we assume) hygiene and safety, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem that half of the prospective buyers are smoking!
Note: If you're wondering, the pronounciation of this area of town sounds a bit like 'Skeeji'.
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