The Tsujiki Fish Market in Tokyo is the largest fish market in the world. More fish and more money flow through this market than any other fish market. In fact, this market sets the standard for fish prices in markets around the world. In all of the tour books I read, Tsujiki was named as one of the sites in Tokyo that is not to be missed. Since you need to leave for the market at 5 a.m., we decided it will be best to visit the first morning we are in Tokyo as we will probably already be up because of the jet lag. Fish is a staple of the Japanese diet. In our country, we most often associate Japanese food with sushi. Fish and seafood are among my favorite foods, and I LOVE sushi and sashimi. Trying authentic Japanese food IN JAPAN is one of the things I'm looking forward to the most on this trip!
Tonight on CBS's 60 Minutes, there was a report on the Tsujiki market that made me think a little differently about my favorite food. I not only learned what buyers look for in Tuna they want to purchase (high fat content, color, and oil), but that one fish can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000, depending on the size, season, and fat content. Over the summer I learned about the problem of overfishing, and how the oceans are being depleted of fish at a rate faster than the fish can reproduce. As a result, fish are becoming scarce and fishermen are losing their jobs. The report on 60 Minutes focused primarily on the decreasing population of Blue Fin Tuna in the Mediterranean Sea and the illegal methods that are being used to capture the fish. As a result of new fishing methods and the new technologies used to ship and store the fish, people in countries around the world can be supplied with inexpensive fish and sushi. This has increased the demand for the fish and encourages the illegal fishing. In time, more and more fishermen will lose their jobs and the Blue Fin Tuna will become extinct. In Japan, fishing was a popular occupation in rural areas, but there are less and less small-time fishermen because of the decrease in the amount of fish as a result of overfishing. It is very similar to what happened with coal mining, not only in states like Pennsylvania, but in areas of Japan like Takeo.....but more on that later!
Learning all of this definitely makes me think more about where my food comes from and wonder whether it comes from small fishermen and farmers, or big conglomerates. It will be interesting to see how Japanese culture looks at sustainable living, and if there is a difference in a big city like Tokyo and a small city like Takeo.
In other news, I decided that I will go to Kyoto on my day off. Stacy, Holly, and my family all convinced me that I can't miss out on this opportunity.
3 comments:
Hi Abby!!
I'm so jealous that you are in Japan -- I so want to visit there! Have fun and enjoy yourself!
Alyssa
eww. Ms.Brazina. what is that fish in the picture? are you going to have to eat that? as much as i would like to go to Japan I don't think that I could live on their diet there.
Isn't that a crazy picture?? I think those are squid. I've had squid before in Italian food (calamari), but it was always cut up and cooked. It was actually pretty yummy. I think it is served raw and cooked in Japan. I love sushi and sashimi with raw fish like tuna and salmon and some white fish, but I don't think I would like raw squid! I'm not sure if I will have to eat this in Japan, but I decided to try not to think too much about WHAT it is that I'm eating while I'm there. I will just eat it and decide if I like it, then ask what it is :) That way I'll be more likely to try new things!
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