Fishmarket, six pack, a loyal doggy and Tonki
Trip Start
Jul 03, 2010
1
62
125
Trip End
Ongoing
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
Monday, July 26, 2010
It’s already day by then. And Tsukiji is a very busy place, like if it were full daytime already. We visitors get a yellow vest to distinguish us. And at 5:00am sharp we’re led into the market place, to witness the tuna auction site.
Quite cold in there, with plenty of big frozen tuna fish laying on the floor, ready to be inspected by the bidders. An amazing sight, to see the bidders at work, evaluating the quality of each tuna by the color, texture, etc.A world in itself, with about half of the people working at Tsukiji being part of families who have been there since ages. At 5:30am sharp the bells ring, and the auctioneers start to sing, almost dance, and shout as loud as they can. It’s all signs and looks, very difficult to discern for the non-pro. But amazing to watch, how fast entire tuna change hands.
We’re then led into the rest of the compound, whereas several of the main areas remain out of touch for non-professional. But we get enough of a glimpse to see the entire value chain, from entire tuna to ready-to-eat sushi. Fascinating. Eating a sushi breakfast is a must, tender and amazingly fresh. A bit funny to eat raw fish at 6:00am, for sure, but worth it!
Then a quick stroll through Ginza, one of the main and most upscale shopping districts in Tokyo. The shops are still closed, but the buzz will start early. A cappuccino at Illy, then back to the Hotel.
We go out with the girls, mission camera fix. But on the way there it is, Abercrombie & Fitch in Ginza! Daddy senses it is a crazy move, but the temptation is too big for the girls and they are not disappointed. The young gent at the entrance protrudes abs that make any man jealous. It’s picture time. The girls melt… We’re not in for buying but exit the place with the customary shopping bag. Ouch! Amazing how this place can build up a brand and capture people.
For the remainder of the day, some of the highlights are:
- Visit Nikon Repair Center: verdict is cruel, lens is broken. Bite the bullet, and buy a new one at a local lens shop
- Chat with lens shop owner, a very friendly gentleman who has three children, all boys, himself – an expensive "business" in Tokyo
- Daddy signs up for an Ironman in 2011, with his friend Charl; to celebrate his forthcoming 45th anniversary; boys remain boys – all credit and thanks in advance goes to the ever understanding mama and family!
- Visit Shibuya, one of the main hubs in Tokyo and a fascinating part of town with the ever impressive Shibuya Kosaten, or Shibuya crossing, where with every green light crowds and crowds of people cross the street
- At Shibuya station there is also the statue of Hachiko, the now famous dog who “picked up” his master at the train station every day in the early 1900s, and continued to go every day to the station for 10 years, until his own death, after his master passed away
- Cruise the backstreets of Shibuya, a buzzing mingle of modern shops and new generation styled youth
- Eat at Tonki – the renown Tonkatsu restaurant off Meguro station; we were regulars there when living in Tokyo, the restaurant is an attraction in itself, where you can sit at the counter and watch the cooks prepare the meat. Amazingly, the majority of the staff is still there! Soooo nice!
- The shop’s obachan, or grand ma, comes to meet us at the exit and says “wait wait”; she disappears for a moment then reappears with a bottle of secret Tonki sauce as a gift; it is the sauce she developed some 40 years ago and which is one of the specialties of Tonki; she is now 85, but ever active. Such a special gesture, totally unexpected; thank you obachan!
- Night session back at the hotel, with Abue, the grand ma in Quito who is celebrating today “Happy Birthday”!!
