• Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. An unlikely tourist attraction, visitors would queue up in the early hours of the morning to watch the famous tuna auctions. Declan McVeigh/The National
    Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. An unlikely tourist attraction, visitors would queue up in the early hours of the morning to watch the famous tuna auctions. Declan McVeigh/The National
  • Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. An unlikely tourist attraction, visitors would queue up in the early hours of the morning to watch the famous tuna auctions. Declan McVeigh/The National
    Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. An unlikely tourist attraction, visitors would queue up in the early hours of the morning to watch the famous tuna auctions. Declan McVeigh/The National
  • Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. Skilled workers with razor sharp knives carve up expensive cuts for Tokyo's restaurants. Declan McVeigh/The National
    Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. Skilled workers with razor sharp knives carve up expensive cuts for Tokyo's restaurants. Declan McVeigh/The National
  • Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. Freezing cold and wet, it became an unlikely tourist attraction. Declan McVeigh/The National
    Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. Freezing cold and wet, it became an unlikely tourist attraction. Declan McVeigh/The National
  • Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. Inside the huge complex were several sushi restaurants, which offered the freshest fish and oysters in the country. Declan McVeigh/The National
    Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. Inside the huge complex were several sushi restaurants, which offered the freshest fish and oysters in the country. Declan McVeigh/The National
  • Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. An unlikely tourist attraction, visitors would queue up in the early hours of the morning to watch the famous tuna auctions. Declan McVeigh/The National
    Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. An unlikely tourist attraction, visitors would queue up in the early hours of the morning to watch the famous tuna auctions. Declan McVeigh/The National
  • Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. Every day, thousands of sea creatures of all kinds were filleted, frozen and boxed up for sale. Declan McVeigh/The National
    Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. Every day, thousands of sea creatures of all kinds were filleted, frozen and boxed up for sale. Declan McVeigh/The National
  • Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. Every day, thousands of sea creatures of all kinds were filleted, frozen and boxed up for sale. Declan McVeigh/The National
    Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale fish and seafood market. Every day, thousands of sea creatures of all kinds were filleted, frozen and boxed up for sale. Declan McVeigh/The National

A farewell to Tsukiji fish market - in pictures


Declan McVeigh
  • English
  • Arabic

Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo was - until it closed on October 6 - the world's largest wholesale enterprise of its kind.

Built on reclaimed land in the city's bay area, the Japanese capital’s municipality decided to move the existing fish market to this new location after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.

Tsukiji opened its doors on February 11, 1935, and, as well as being a major part of the city’s economy, it eventually became an unlikely tourist attraction.

Visitors would queue up in the cold in the early hours of the morning to watch the famous tuna auctions.

Skilled workers would fillet and divide prime cuts with razor sharp knives, as metal loaders swept along the narrow lanes between stores.

For those in the know, Tsukiji market was also home to some of the best sushi in Japan.

A few small restaurants used the produce in their dishes, serving it up with piping hot miso soup to revive frozen tourists.

However, because the Tsukiji operation was sitting in a prime location, it was decided to relocate it to Toyosu market, a brand new facility a few kilometres away.

The new market reopened on October 14, and early indications suggest tourists are still flocking to see this slice of Japanese life.

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