The Tsukiji Fish Market

This photo was taken at 6:30am this morning after we completed our visit to the Tsukiji fish market in downtown Tokyo, at the harbour's edge east of Ginza. We arrived at 5:30am so we could witness the famous tuna auction in person.
30% of the world's tuna is consumed in Japan - roughly 7.5% just in Tokyo alone. All of Tokyo's tuna and most other seafood comes through Tsukiji. The wholesale tuna auction occurs in a warehouse at the rear of a large covered but open air marketplace. The tuna lies in rows on the floor, the auctioneer is on a box in the middle and the auction proceeds quickly with a series of gestures, barks and signals. Once complete, the intermediate buyers then set to work prepping their purchases for sale to restaurants and other middlemen in a giant array of market stalls. The level of activity is astounding and the action in the market is chaotic. People, fish and motorized dollies and forklift are going in every direction. It was a surreal and incredibly genuine Japanese experience. More photos to follow.