Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo is a wholesaler market. The fish, big Tuna fish, are sold to merchants and restaurants’ owners when the price of the fish is determined in a noisy public sale procedure. Lot of tourists arrives to watch the unique sale process that can’t be seen in any market.
Every day, at 3:00 a.m. the market comes alive and the its workers prepare the giant fish for sale.
The organizers create a fish exhibition on low platforms, check the quality of the fish and estimate its value. On 4:30 a.m. the buyers gather and the public sale begins.
The announcer presents a fish and asks screaming the public how much they are willing to pay for this specific fish. The merchants suggest prices, the announcer repeats the suggestions and as in any public sale, the price is agreed by one of the participants then the announcer moves to the next fish. (The uniqueness of the process is demonstrated in the enclosed video film-strips).
At the end of the sale, the merchants arrive with barrows and every one takes the fishes that he bought. Some of the fish reach to the retailer market and sold to privet buyers and some buyers load the fishes on their vehicles and take it to their restaurants.
Visits in the market are done only in guided tours and required coordination in advance. The tour required early rising which is not always comfort for tourists, but, it is worthwhile to lose three sleeping hours in order to watch this unique trade process that can’t be seen anywhere else.
Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo

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