The famous Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo is in danger of demolition, and Mr. Kuniji Maruyama, president of Maruyama Nori Company in Tsukiji (a 150 years old shop that specializes selling the finest quality of nori and Japanese tea www.maruyamanori.com ) agonizes. The Tokyo Metropolitan government is preparing to move the market from the present, history-and-culture rich Tsukiji district (the market was established at the present location in 1935) to a new home in the recently developed Toyosu district of Tokyo. There technologically advanced systems can operate the market more efficiently and hygienically than today. Mr. Maruyama laments that moving the Tsukiji Fish Market to a new location where public consumers and tourists have no access destroys our long-held traditional food market culture. Before the Tsukiji Fish Market disappears, Mr. Maruyama wants to devote his time and energy to promote it to the world’s population. So, he founded the Non-Profit Organization (NPO) Tsukiji Information Center that is located in front of the restaurant, called Bon Marche (www.tsukijibonmarche.jp) – Mr. Maruyama’s 2 year old trendy Italian restaurant in the Tsukiji KY Building. There you can find information on a Tsukiji self-guided tour (www.tsukijitour.com) in English. Please visit Tsukiji and explore it before its demise. You may know that we have had the same experience here in New York where the historical 200 year old Fulton Fish Market in lower Manhattan moved a few years ago to sparkling new, efficient but charmless facilities in distant Hunts Point Queens. Do you live in or visit Paris? Please go to Mr. Maruyama’s chic tea shop at 95, Rue de Seine – www.jugetsudo.fr. Mr. Maruyama’s mission is to extend Japanese tea culture to all the world’s citizens.
