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Tsukiji Fish Market

Page history last edited by Chad Lampton 14 years, 1 month ago

 

The Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market 

 

 

800px-Tsukiji as seen from Shiodome 

 

  • Also known as the Tsukiji Fish Market because of its location in the district of Tokyo known as Tsukiji, it is the largest seafood market in the world.

 

  • Annually Japan consumes 8.5 million tons of seafood, this is second to China who consumes 32.5 million tons of seafood, however China has 10 times as many people.

 

  • Japan's fishing industry brings in the 3rd largest annual catch second only to China and Peru.

 

  • Japan imports the rest of its needs, they import 26% of the worlds seafood, making them the largest seafood market in the world.

 

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  • The market handles over 2000 tons of seafood product a day.

 

  • Because of its size and large operation it is a major attraction of Tokyo.

 

  • The most popular attraction is the tuna auction in the early morning.

 

800px-Tsukiji Fresh Tuna Auction

  

  • There is a visiting area for tourists between 5:00 AM and 6:15AM for the tuna auctions.

 

  • The market is comprised of 2 sections, the inner and outer sections.  The inner section is where all of the wholesale marketing takes place, as well as the auctions.  The outer section is for retail shops and restaurants.

 

  • The market itself employs over 60,000 people.

 

  • At about 3:00 AM the market opens to importers including fishing vessels and seafood from around the world.  At about 5:00 AM the auctions open up for licensed wholesalers.

 

  • The auctions usually end around 7:00 AM and the entire market usually closes up before noon. 

 

alg japan tuna

 

  • The market originally started during the Edo period, the local fishermen would bring fish to the Edo castle.  The left over fish that did not sell would be sold at the Nihonbashi bridge.  This process continually grew and grew and was eventually destroyed by The Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923.  After the quake the market was moved to the Tsukiji district. 

 

  • The most prized fish at the fish market is the bluefin tuna, which currently holds the record for the most expensive fish ever sold.  In 2001 the 440lb fish sold for $220,000.  Recently an even larger 513lb bluefin sold this year for $177,000.  A tuna this large is usually bought by multiple restaurants. 

 

  • The bluefin tuna is the most sought after fish for sushi in Japan.

 

  • Bluefin tuna can get up to 1,000lbs.

 

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  • Large fresh tuna are cut using Oroshi Hocho "Wholesale Knife", very large 5 foot long blades that can fillet a fish in a single cut, they are so large it takes 2 or 3 people to perfom the fillet.

 

800px-Tsukiji fish market thuna knife

 

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References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oroshi_hocho

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukiji_fish_market

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/food/2010/01/06/2010-01-06_holy_mackerel_513pound_giant_bluefin_tuna_reels_in_177000_at_market_in_japan_.html

http://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia21/en/feature/feature03.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3021.html

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