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Five Years Since the Move to Toyosu

2023.10.09

Five Years Since the Move to Toyosu

A scene from the tuna auction floor at Tsukiji Market

Time flies.

It has been five years since the fish market moved from Tsukiji to Toyosu.

In other words, it has also been five years since Tsukiji closed.

Various facilities have recently sprung up around Toyosu as well, and it seems to be becoming an enjoyable place.

Even so, for the fifth-generation owner, who grew up familiar with Tsukiji, there are still aspects of Toyosu that do not feel familiar.

Perhaps it is because, compared with Tsukiji, the buildings feel somewhat impersonal—somewhat aloof.

As for the former Tsukiji site, lately there has been talk of building a home stadium for the Yomiuri Giants there.

Speaking of the Giants, Giants player Mikolas, whom I happened to run into inside Tsukiji Market

That would be enjoyable in its own way, but what was the reason for moving Tsukiji in the first place?

I had assumed that the purpose of the move was to build facilities for the Tokyo Olympics or something of that sort, but what does it mean that the purpose is only now finally being decided??

If there was a proper justification, then perhaps it could not be helped, but in that case I cannot help wishing that Tsukiji had remained as it was, rather than moving to Toyosu.

Even at the time, there were quite a few vacant shops inside Tsukiji Market. As a layperson, I remember thinking that if the shops had been consolidated, a new building could first have been built in the vacant space, and after moving there, further new buildings could have been constructed—perhaps everything could have been completed within Tsukiji alone.

The relocation issue even became a point of contention in the Tokyo gubernatorial election.

Even now that Toyosu Market has become established, I still feel uneasy about it.

The fifth-generation owner generally prefers new, comfortable things to old ones, whether it is trains or airplanes, both of which are hobbies. Yet when it comes to Toyosu Market, I still have no attachment to it…

What is built is built, so I am sure I will grow attached to it eventually—but apparently not anytime soon.

A nostalgic morning scene at Tsukiji
At the loading area known as the chaya, with Mr. and Mrs. Tu from Vietnam and Mr. Nakakita of Inara Shoten
With the president of Yamaharu and female Vietnamese employees. They are hard workers.
It is hard to imagine now, but I was often allowed to ride the little transport vehicles called tarē and race around inside the market.
The first Yoshinoya branch, which was inside the market, and Mr. Inamine, an extremely veteran employee. He could tell regular customers' orders simply by looking at their faces. The fifth-generation owner always ordered, “extra-large beef plate with no scallions and no broth, and rice about the size of a golf ball.” If I sat at the counter, it would be served without my saying a word. Incidentally, Yahata Sushi frequented it from the second generation through the sixth generation.

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