Inside Tokyo’s fantastically ramshackle Tsukiji fish market, each stall has an office to deal with the business side of the very busy fish business; the vast majority of which are small, basic affairs like this one I photographed last year. But when it comes to the tiniest, this box definitely takes some beating.
Kate says
Wow, crazy small. I wonder, is that map there to comfort or taunt her?
Lee says
It really is, isn’t it?
Good question. I suspect even if it was put up to comfort her, it wouldn’t do anything of the kind…
Al says
Whoah, that’s one small office! 😮
Lee says
It really is. Just enough room for a phone and a few post-it notes by the look of it!
cdilla says
Wow. I have suits with more room than that.
I wouldn’t like to have to sit in there for long at all.
What time of day would you recommend visiting Tsukiji? I’ll be visiting next month.
Lee says
Haha, there are so many things with more room than her office.
Sadly they have really clamped down on tourists. It used to be possible to stroll in from 9 onwards, but these days it’s from 10. And the security are very keen on keeping strictly to that. They wouldn’t let me in even a minute before 10. A shame really, as things are beginning to wind down then.
But still worth getting there beforehand. There are the shops and restaurants within the market grounds but not within the fish market itself. That way you can be ready to enter bang on 10, and so get a look around while things are still happening.
cdilla says
Thanks for the heads up on that. I had half a notion that you could wander in at any time.
While I’m in that area I’m going to try and find the capsule tower too as I think it’s somehwere near. Not sure Mrs cdilla will appreciate it, but hey, anyone can turn left rather than right when emerging from a mero station for the first time 🙂
James Gardener says
10! What happened to the real very early morning visits?
Lee says
As far as I know you can still watch the tuna auctions, but numbers are limited, so that’s a lottery. Otherwise the guards simply won’t let you in. Obviously buyers and locals are wandering in and out the whole time, but the moment the guards see a foreign face before 10 they are on to you. I’ve told them I was buying, argued with them that I’m not a tourist, but it has made no difference. Obviously having a camera on me hasn’t helped, but they just won’t have it. I do understand that it’s a place of work. A very busy place too. But it’s a real shame.
Linda says
That is amazing. I suppose there’s no hope of them moving it to the new market. If the new market ever happens of course…
Lee says
No, can’t see that going to the new place, but she’ll presumably have a similarly small but much shinier office waiting for her there!
Squidpuppy says
Great capture. Quintessentially Japanese: stuff every tiny space beyond any expectation of capacity, and then live in it. In one sense, it seems cozy, but it might drive me nuts after more than an hour.
I wonder how much of Tsukiji’s weird charm and surprising sights at every turn, tucked into nooks and crannies, will transfer to the new market? Kinda counting on you (heh) to post pics when it finally opens. Seems like a slap in the face of tradition to move the place, about on par with tearing down Harajuku station and putting up a soulless monstrosity.
Maybe the new market will have robots…
Lee says
Cheers. Likewise. Sitting in there hour after hour, days after day would be soul destroying. And if that wasn’t bad enough, it must be freezing in winter too.
I’ll definitely make a trip to the new place when the move does finally go ahead, but I can’t see it being very interesting. That charm and thrown together element will be completely gone. Progress I suppose, but only in the sense it will be modern and shiny. Like you mentioned, so much is going that way. The rush for a modern Tokyo is in danger of destroying a good deal what makes the city so truly fascinating…
ex-expat says
Looks like a recycled commercial airplane toilet.
Lee says
A few other people have said that. Not something I even thought about. But it is, isn’t it? Way too similar not to be.
Denton says
Great framing as ever. It offers a good sense of scale. But boy do I feel sorry for that poor woman……. 🙁
Lee says
Cheers! Yeah, I don’t envy her at all…
MrSatyre says
I actually had to stare at that picture for about a minute before I realized what you had taken a picture of. All I could see was the little ledge with the clipboard on it on the side of a cabinet. I was completely clueless that the face staring out was not a photo stuck to the side.
Lee says
Haha, that’s funny. Oddly that would make more sense than someone actually having to spend their work days in that tiny space…
Now you’ve said it though I can totally understand. Having taken the photo I obviously saw it differently, but looking at it the other way she does look like a poster.