Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market set for demolition in autumn 2018; to be rebuilt as a logistics center for the 2020 Olympics

▲ Tsukiji Market (Photo / File photo)

By Rita

News of the relocation of Tokyo’s famous fish market has been circulating for a long time, but the date has been changed multiple times. On the 17th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced that a new moving date for Tsukiji Market has finally been decided — the market will relocate to its new site between September and October 2018, although the exact date has yet to be announced.


▲ Tsukiji Market, Sushi Dai. (Photo / Reporter Huang Shiyuan)

According to the website channelnewsasia, the new site of Tsukiji Market, Toyosu Market, has also encountered some issues. Originally a gas factory, the contaminated soil was not replaced with new soil after treatment, and a large hole was even discovered beneath the building's foundation. Toxic benzene, exceeding government standards by 100 times, was detected in the groundwater. The Tokyo government stated in a report that the soil contamination issue is expected to be resolved by next summer.

After the relocation, the original Tsukiji Market site will be demolished immediately, as the location will be used as a logistics center for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.