JAPAN BONUS 10: Tsukiji Fish Market

I have to thank Tom for wanting to go here, otherwise I probably would have never even
thought about it.  The Tsukiji Fish Market is said to be the biggest wholesale fish market
in the world.




I never really felt out of place or in the way while in Japan. But at the fish market, we were
certainly in the way, although we tried our best to not cause any issues for the frenzy of
action happening there. 

Once you arrive, by train of course, you walk a few minutes to the fish market where you
will have a short, but slightly treacherous experience trying to navigate your way through
a river of small trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, box trucks, cars and lots of people trying to
get in and out of the market with lots of fresh ocean creatures for Japan to consume.
The scale of the fish market is truly something, and despite the sheer mass of dead and
dying sea life, there was no fowl odor. It did however, smell like you were in the ocean
itself, or at least at the beach on a cool fall day.  You know, that salty, briny smell that only
the ocean has, but no dead fish smell whatsoever.

With people and trucks everywhere, we made our way in, and weaved in and out of the
isles carefully, taking photos (to the displeasure of some) all the way.

Behold.

This guy was there, standing on a platform, just to direct the mad traffic of people and vehicles.


Tuna head in front of the sushi bar we ate at....at 10:30am, btw.


Styrofoam and blood.


Try to imagine all of this moving.  Then try to imagine walking in and around all of this action.




Mmmmm, tako.




Tuna, ready to be cut.








I love flatfish.










Some serious roe.








OMG, look at that pink flesh. Sushi tonight?




Anyone know what these are? I'm guessing some sort of edible barnacle or something like that.




Do work, son.












Fish livers???






Blowfish galore.


















When you see an operation like this, it really gives you a first hand look at the rape of our oceans. It is
something every fish lover should see, just so you can appreciate what you are putting into your mouth.

What is the real cost of all this?