Discover million dollar tuna market in Japan

Most bluefin tuna is sold at 3 Japanese markets, of which Tsukiji is the most famous. From here, fish worth millions of dollars are transferred throughout Japan and the world.

Million dollar tuna market in Japan

Tsukiji Fish Market is a wholesale market of fish and vegetables located right in the center of Tokyo, the capital of Japan.When the market has an area of ​​nearly 200,000 m2 with nearly 1,700 booths.Tsukiji is famous all over the world as the largest bluefin tuna trading center in the world with daily sales of up to 2,000 tons.(Photo: Medium.)

The market meets from 5 am to 10 pm daily.Workers often arrive earlier to prepare for the auction, while tourists line up before 5pm to register, in order to have a chance to witness how Japanese people buy tuna.Throughout Tsukiji, there were always loud voices, announcing in five different languages.Visitors to the market are asked not to wear high heels or slippers, pets, suitcases or smoking at the fish market.(Photo: Medium.)

When transferred to Tsukiji market, bluefin tuna will be cut at the tail, abdomen brake.Weight and origin of each animal will be written right on the body with red ink.(Photo: Flickr.)

To ensure quality, tuna is always chilled when brought to auction.This makes the temperature at Tsukiji market always low and covered by a thin mist due to cold air from hundreds of fish escaping.(Photo: The Guardian.)

Customers hold knives or axes to take a sample of fish meat under the flashlight.They carefully rub a little fish meat on the index finger to check the color, texture and amount of fat, before deciding whether to buy or not.(Photo: AP.)

Outside the auction house is the shipping area.Despite being an area of ​​43 football fields, it is always narrow, overloaded and congested.After more than 80 years of existence, Tsukiji will be relocated to an artificial island called Toyosu, about 1.5 miles from the old location in 2016. (Photo: Medium.)

Leaving Tsukiji Market, fish are transported by car to restaurants on the day, to make traditional kuromaguro (sushi made from bluefin tuna).It is often used with a long and thin blade to cut the fish in half, after washing the outer adhesive.If buying in bulk, customers can use the fish cutting service at the market.(Photo: Flickr.)

Tuna meat is divided into three types, back, breast and belly.The pieces of sushi made from belly meat are always the most expensive.In 2012, the average price of a sushi made from bluefin auctioned at USD 1.7 million at Mr. Kiyoshi Kimura's restaurant is USD 345 (equivalent to over VND 7 million).(Photo: Dailymail.)