Hochner Family Blog

I'm really sleepy now because I woke up quite early this morning. Why? Because we visited the Tsukiji Fish Market this morning together with my teacher.
From the left, Goto san, my teacher (Mr. Kawasumi), and my colleagues, and Julien who came with us before going to school.

Tsukiji, also known as Tokyo Central Wholesale Market, is the largest fish market in the world. To give you an idea, it handled 615,409 tons (2,246 tons a day) of marine products, 498 billion yen (1.8 billion yen a day) (figures of 2003). Some 450 kinds of fish are received; this figure is unparalleled in the world. Marine product sections are not the only ones available at Tsukiji — you can also find fresh vegetables and all kind of other products. All in all, Tsukiji is “a Kitchen for the 12 Million people leaving in Tokyo".

It's located near Ginza, Tokyo’s most famous upmarket shopping, dining and entertainment district. Work starts there around 5:00 in the afternoon when all kind of fresh foodstuffs pour in by truck, plane and ships from all over the world. Around 3:00 am, before daybreak, the jobbers start to check out what will be sold this day. The day’s auction of tuna starts at 5:30 a.m. Right after the purchase, the goods are carried to the various wholesale company stalls located within the market, and processed (cut into smaller pieces) so that caterers and other purchasers can buy them easily. Around 8:00 am, the retailers start to take away their purchases to their own shops in town. Around 11:00 am, the place slowly closes after being cleaned. The market takes a rest and is ready for the next day of work.

We arrived there before 8:00 am and the people who finished their shopping were leaving the market. There were so many people and chariots and lifts and trucks and trolleys carrying the fish right to left, left to right. There are also a lot of shops around the market, hence their name "Jogai", around the market. These sell all kind of items, related or not to the main activity, the products from the sea. You can also find numerous restaurants, sushi place, etc.
Dried food: These beans are used for Setsubun, the bean scattering festival.
Dishes
Accessories
Japanese pickles
Vegetables
Scales and calculators
Yoshinoya — the actual 1st restaurant of what has become a very large chain.
Hocho (knives)
Boots shop
Brush
In the market, there were so many little carriers moving around in all directions. And then fish, fish, and more fish.

There is a Jinja (temple) next to the market. There we saw a Tamagozuka and a Sushizuka — this is where people come to thank the gods for providing them with these specific ingredients. I picked up a Omikuji (oracle) and I got a "Daiichi" the best of fortune!
We then had a nice breakfast at a Sushi shop in the market. 7 sushi and 4 maki (rolls).
I bought some Katsuo (bonito) for my Miso soup.

This concludes our tour of Tsukiji. There are many more pictures and you can see them HERE.

Back in School to continue our practice and study.
Today's lunch: Salmon Sushi, and broiled Salmon Sushi
My colleague
Today's special: Suzuki (sea wolf). We made sashimi with.
The teacher made a beautiful rose with the Suzuki Sashimi (fish without rice).
And here is some Inada Sashimi.

Again, there are many more pictures and you can see them HERE.

# posted by Famille Hochner @ 4:55 PM