My first visit to Tsukiji fish markets was definitely too short. I decided to go again.
The work starts at dawn - the fresh catch provided by fishermen is being auctioned and bought by shop and restaurant owners.
Fiew pictures form the auction is here (Author: Frantisek Staud).
At about seven o'clock all the fish is sold. All the hustle calmes down.
A gigantic pile of polystyren boxes seems to be the only witness left of the morning auction.
Transportation around the markets is carried by three-wheeled trolleys called tahlay (like one on the picture). Thanks to direct connection between front wheel and the steering wheel they are able to take a turn almost in a spot.
Clerks order goods by phone...
To weight seafood, old, simple weights will do just fine.
Counting doesn't require a computer either.
This man, when asked about the kind of fish he was counting, gently answered and right after, with smile on his face, started counting again, as he forgot where he stopped.
Many restaurants and food stalls serve seafood from the morning catch. Sometimes those places are so small, only few customers fit. The shop infrastructure is at the back... on the street.
Even though kitchen area in this restaurant doesn't seem to be more than couple square meters, everything goes surprisingly smooth.
White man is rather a rarity - most of the customers are frequenters here.
Outside the markets, constant consumption is also a regular view.
Tokyo isn't only about sparkling lights and modern technology. Practical Japanese doesn't change something that works perfectly for years. Janitor's trolley doesn't look impressive, but still does it's job well.
Old shoes can still be mended as long as there is someone willing to do it.
Time to knock off...
...right after daily takings are counted up.
Tsukiji fishmarkets is a precisely working mechanism that provides fresh seafood to the people of Tokyo everyday.
My adventures in Japan are getting to end. I wish I could spend couple more months here, yet it still wouldn't be enough to understand this exotic country. For now, my own country awaits me - I haven't seen it for three years.
How will I find Poland this time? What is waiting for me? A lot of changes, that's for sure, but also all my memories I left behind before going to Australia. I know that the distance and experience I have gained when thrown into unknown, made me see my surroundings in a different way.
My next journal will take us two months back in time, when I visited Thailand.
Piotr Kloczkowski
P.S. Bonus.
I see only one mountain bike on this parking. Can you spot it?
Where no car fiwt there is always room for a bicycle. Even if it has to be hanged off the ceiling.
This strange looking construction turns out to be multi-level bicycle parking. Japanese people can't afford parking only one bike, where two of them fit.
The label says: Sangenjaya-kita rennta saikuru po-to - East Sangenjaya bicycle parking.
Here's another one.
In certain areas parking bikes is forbidden. As you can see, this restriction is frequently ignored.
In Japan, Poland is known for::
- Wieliczka salt mines,
- Zubrowka (a kind of vodka),
- Nazi death camp - Oswiecim.
Polish language textbooks are also available here. This one is very funny, unintentionally.
This time it's really THE END. If you enjoyed it, join me in Thailand!
All pictures except marked otherwise are the sole property of the Author. Any processing or commercial use without permission of the Author is forbidden.
