By Nic
The Tsukiji Fish Market, most familiar to Hong Kong people, spans approximately 230,000 square meters and ranks as one of Japan’s largest — if not the world’s largest — fish markets. In addition to daily auctions for seafood, fruits, and vegetables, it houses numerous restaurants serving the freshest fish, making it extremely popular among locals.
Around 900 small businesses in the market open at night, with roughly 60,000 people working there. The workers demonstrate highly skilled craftsmanship in cutting, preparing, and packaging fish, transforming their products into refined artistry rather than mere food items.
Food trading in Tokyo dates back to the Edo period, originally taking place at the Nihonbashi Fish Market. After it was destroyed in an earthquake, the “Tsukiji Foreign Settlement” was developed as a temporary fish market, and in 1935, the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market opened in Tsukiji.
The original site of Tsukiji Market will be repurposed in autumn 2018, with the market and restaurants moving into new, modern structures — inevitably stripping the area of its unique character.
Italian travel photographer Federico Bonifazi recently shared a series of photos he took here, documenting this distinctive market through images.
To see more, you can visit Federico Bonifazi’s website.
Source: PetaPixel