Big in Japan: Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo’s top tourist attraction, is limiting access

No trip to Tokyo is complete without a visit to Tsukiji Market (????????, Tsukiji shij?), the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. According to estimates, over 2000 tons of fish worth over US$15 million are sold here daily – that’s a total of 616,000 tons of fish worth over US$4.25 billion each year!

If it comes from the ocean, then chance are that you’ll find in at the Central Fish Market, which is literally home to acres upon acres of commercial vendors. Of course, the highlight for both foreign and domestic tourists has always been the daily tuna auctions, where hulking 600 pound behemoths can fetch prices of up to several thousand dollars per head.

If you’ve never had the privilege of watching Tsukiji’s famed tuna auction, the action commences around 5am when buyers are admitted onto the showroom floor. Here, rows upon rows of frozen tuna are meticulously poked and prodded by expert hands in search of the highest quality meat. Soon after, the scene erupts into a frenzy of calls and responses as buyers seek to outbid one another for the choicest fish.

Sadly, tourist access to this incredible scene is being restricted following increasing complaints by fish traders that tourists were distracting them from their work.

As of April 1, 2008, tourists will only be able to watch the tuna auctions from a designated area, and entry times are also being restricted from 0500 to 0615. Depending on how successful these new regulations are in curbing distractions, there is a chance that stricter regulations may be implemented in the near future.

According to Ihei Sugita, who works at the Central Fish Market, foreign visitors were taking to the habit of touching and photographing fish that came from their home countries. “At a place that auctions several hundred tunas in a day, this is affecting our business. We do feel bad to completely turn them down since they are visiting all the way from abroad, so that’s why we are keeping this window of time that will affect us the least.”

In the past, the daily tuna auctions at Tsukiji were only attracting a handful of in-the-know foreign visitors each day. However, in recent years the popularity of the event has surged, especially sincemore and more world travelers have becoming increasingly more curious as to the humble origins of their favorite sushi.

Since there is a good chance that the tuna auctions may become completely closed off in the years to come, it’s probably worth trying to catch a glimpse of this wholly unique event while you still can. If you happen to find yourself out at night in Tokyo, our recommendation is simply to party hard in Roppongi until the sun rises, and then hop a quick cab to Tsukiji. True, an impending hangover and the smell of raw fish are anything but a wise combination, but trust us – being in the middle of the auction madness is worth the risk!

** All photos were snapped by yours truly at a time when foreign visitors to Tsukiji were still permitted to get up close to the action. **

Big in Japan: Japan’s top ramen shop opens up NYC branch

If you’re a fan of Japanese soul food, namely the heaven-sent goodness that is ramen, and you happen to live in the New York City area, boy do we have some good news for you!

There is no shortage of truly gourmet ramen in Tokyo, though few bowls can compete with Ippudo (?????), which is widely regarded as one of the country’s best noodles shops. Originating in the city of Hakata (????) on the island of Kyushu, Ippudo pays homage to its roots by serving up some of the best damn Hakata-style ramen on the planet.

Hakata ramen is distinguished by its rich and milky pork-bone broth, thin noodles and unique toppings such as pickled ginger, crushed sesame and pickled greens. However, Ippudo expands on this traditional recipe by adding fiery Tokyo-style red miso, savory black sesame oil and a wide range of toppings such as soft-boiled eggs and thick sheets of nori.

And now, if you happen to be a New Yorker in need of some serious ramen, all you need to do is head to the brand-new Ippudo NY, located at 65 4th Avenue in downtown Manhattan.
Although ramen has always been regarded as something of a blue-collar staple in Japan, Ippudo was one of first major commercial enterprises to vault this hearty dish to truly gourmet levels. The story of Ippudo is really the story of Shigemi Kawahara, who is widely regarded in Japan as the ‘King of Ramen.’ After launching his first ramen restaurant in 1985, Kawahara went on to open up a total of 34 shops throughout the country, and is currently aiming to bring his epicurean noodles to the international stage.

According to Kawahara: “The restaurant is the stage and the business is the art. We are not just making ramen, but creating and instilling a feeling of gratitude. My ambition is to have Japanese ramen take root around the world.”

Kawahara is credited with several ramen innovations, most notably the incredibly refined texture of his handmade noodles, which are made from several different types of blended flour. The ramen master also builds his soup stock from no less than three individually blended mixes, and is extremely proud of his roast pork, which is slow-cooked in a closely-guarded secret sauce. And finally, Kawahara is regarded as the first chef to use color designation (red and white) as a way of defining his signature miso-based ramen soups.

With a history dating back over 300 years, ramen noodles have undergone an incredible transformation from their humble origins as Chinese-inspired fast food. And, needless to say, true ramen is nothing like the Styrofoam-packaged Cup o’Noodles that are something of a staple amongst American college students. With that said, if you’re still unconvinced that ramen noodles can be as gourmet as a finely aged cheese or a hand-plucked wild mushroom, head to Ippudo NY and see what you’ve been missing.

Ippudo NY is located on 4th Ave between East 9th and 10th Streets, and is open daily for lunch and dinner. For more information, check out www.ippudo.com/ny.

Big in Japan: Godzilla, King Koopa and Mother Nature join forces to destroy Tokyo

Today at 9:17AM Eastern Standard time, the city formerly known as Tokyo was forever wiped from the world map.

Although this once prosperous Asian megalopolis has weathered the storm of natural disasters and horrific calamities for generations, the events that transpired earlier today are simply impossible to fully comprehend. However, what we do know at this time is that Tokyo was virtually obliterated following a combined attack by Godzilla, King Koopa and Mother Nature.

Tokyo has a long history of rising from the ashes, having survived earthquakes, firebombing and the ever-present threat of Mothra. However, the diabolic cooperation that led to the demise of this once great capital is simply unprecedented.

According to the few remaining survivors, who have since sought refuge on vast manmade islands constructed entirely of empty Cup o’Noodle Styrofoam packaging, the attack commenced when the pre-dawn sky was lit up by the atomic breath of Godzilla. Moments later, legions of Koopa Troopas surrounded the city under the fascist leadership of Bowser himself.

And then, just as the reality of their impending fate began to take hold in everyone’s minds, Mother Nature unfurled a series of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tidal waves.
Tokyoites have long lived in the shadow of danger, and have grown accustomed to fending off the various elements that threaten their very existence. Indeed, Japanese children as young as five know that you should hide under doorways during an earthquake, and that the only way to kill a goomba is to jump on its head or hit it with a fireball. And of course, residents of Tokyo have long sang praises to Dr. Daisuke Serizawa, who’s oxygen destroyer has kept the city safe from Godzilla for decades.

However, residents were simply unable to protect their fair city from the overwhelming forces of destruction that were unleashed in rapid succession. As Godzilla rose once again from the depths of Tokyo Bay, the Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF) was dispatched en masse to drive the creature back into the ocean depths. However, this fatal mistake left the perimeter of the city unguarded, an unfortunate reality that was quickly exploited by the King of the Koopas.

In the end however, the final nail in the coffin came when long-dormant Mount Fuji blew its top, covering the city in a vast cloud of sulfurous ash. The resounding explosion triggered a whopping earthquake that measured approximately 9.5 on the Richter scale, and submerged much of the city beneath the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean.

Reports from the ground are patchy at best, especially since the radioactive clouds emitted by Godzilla have disrupted communication throughout Asia. However, what is known is that the few hundred remaining survivors were clever enough to construct makeshift life rafts out of discarded Cup o’Noodle Styrofoam packaging, and are currently floating southeast towards the Hawaiian Islands.

** From all of us here at Gadling, to all of you out there in Cyberspace, hope you are all having a very wicked April Fool’s Day! **

Japan to home-grow new jet

It is said that a country’s aviation industry is not complete unless it can produce its own aircraft — hence the importance of “home-grown” jets. I have to add here that that is the most blah term given to a domestically manufactured plane that strengthens the nation’s economy and technological prowess, but hey who am I to make judgment?

Japan announced today that it would have its first home-grown passenger aircraft ready by 2013 and has a $1 billion plan in place. The 70-90 seater planes will be “grown” by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and will target the short/medium-haul regional market. According to AP: this will be the first nationally funded, “made in Japan” passenger aircraft in three decades.

Surprisingly, China beat Japan to it by unveiling their first home-grown jet in December last year.

Big in Japan: Tokyo’s top cherry blossom spots

Spring fever in the air here in Tokyo…

While countries and cultures the world over have their own ways of ushering in the spring season, perhaps none are as famous as Japan’s spectacle of cherry blossom viewing. At present, the normally gray cityscape of Tokyo is awash in bright shades of pink as sakura (??????, ??; cherry trees) trees are beginning to reach the climax of their annual spring bloom.

While modern Japan is seemingly unconnected to the whims and nuances of the natural world, the Japanese still retain a strong sense of seasonality. Indeed, cherry blossoms are revered as the harbinger of spring, and the opportunity to have a hanami (?????; flower-viewing) party is not to be missed.

For those of you who’ve never had the pleasure of being in Tokyo during cherry blossom season, hanami is the traditional Japanese way of admiring the sakura. While other Japanese arts such as the tea ceremony and karate can take lifetimes to master, hanami essentially boils down to a picnic in the park.

However, before you can indulge in copious amounts of alcohol, a veritable feast of seasonal foods and the obligatory impromptu haiku, first you need to pick your spot. And that, my loyal audience, is why I am bringing you this clear and concise guide to Tokyo’s top cherry blossom viewing spots.

Before you can polish off a few tumblers of seasonal sake, first you’re going to need to find some cherry blossom petals worthy of adoration. Indeed, Tokyoites such as myself are keen on keeping our secret spots to ourselves, though the following list of ‘classic’ spots should get you started:

Ueno Park (上野公園; Ueno-kouen) Considering to be the granddaddy of cherry blossom viewing spots, Ueno Park is home to literally thousands of cherry trees, which create a veritable canopy of luscious pink petals. Although it’s certainly not the quietest spot to appreciate nature, hanami parties here are of rock star proportions.

Shinjuku Gardens (新宿御苑; Shinjuku-gyoen) Regarded as having the most beautiful gardens in all of Tokyo, this private park is where you should head if you’re a fan of classic Japanese landscapes. Sakura petals blowing in the wind is a sight in itself, but the scene becomes all the more surreal when they land on perfectly manicured bonsai trees.

Yoyogi Park (代々木公園; Yoyogi-koen) Start your hanami party off with a slow and steady walk through Meiji-jingu (明治神宮), one of Tokyo’s most beautiful shrines, and then wind things down over a bottle of Kirin Ichiban and a rice ball or two in this sprawling urban retreat. Yoyogi attracts a diverse cast of characters, so bring your camera and get ready for some great people-watching.

Sadly, sakura blossoms are as ephemeral as life itself, so don’t waste any time – head to the convenience store, stock up your cooler and start composing those spring haikus.

Sakura petals
Are a divine sight to watch
While sipping beer.

Happy spring!

** All photos were taken by yours truly in Shinjuku-gyoen **