Japan Press Weekly

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2016 July 27 - August 2 [POLITICS]

Tokyo gov’t orders demolition work of Tsukiji fish market without governor’s approval

Akahata has learned that the Tokyo metropolitan government on July 22, in the midst of the gubernatorial election campaign, contracted with three companies for demolition of the Tsukiji fish market. The cost of demolition is about 3.6 billion yen.

The Tokyo government is moving forward with a schedule according to which a new fish market will launch its operations in early November after the relocation from Tsukiji to a former gas plant site in Toyosu. However, the relocation plan has been criticized for mounting problems found at the new market site, such inadequate measures to clean up the soil pollution at the site and an insufficient system in place for logistics and transportation. The majority of intermediate wholesalers in the Tsukiji market have been calling for a postponement of the current schedule.

Nakazawa Makoto of a civil group working to block the fish market relocation said, “In the gubernatorial election campaign, several candidates, including joint opposition candidate Torigoe Shuntaro, promised to revise the schedule. It is unacceptable for the Tokyo government to conclude the demolition contract before the election day. It should cancel the contract.”

In response to an Akahata inquiry, a Tokyo government official in charge of the Tsukiji market relocation said, “We have to move ahead on schedule even without a seated governor.”

Past related articles:
> Tsukiji market dealers don’t want to move to soil-polluted site [March 5, 2015]
> Tsukiji fish market relocation costs exceed initial cost estimate [February 1, 2014]