Tsukiji FG Virus Vaccine

[Mulboyne]

[Samurai_Jerk]

[Kuang_Grade]

Yeah, Tsukiji is clearly one of the most sanitary places in Tokyo if you ignore the stagnate water, blood and the open fires and truck exhaust. And you'd think it was hospital by the clean clothes the workers wear as well. But, of course, those are no match to the cooties that Gaijins might have.

[ketchupkatsu]

damn!!

that was one of the best things about Tokyo. I agree they should have just cut those bastards hands off if they touched the maguro. I know they used to have rules posted in English and Japanese about touching, taking photos during or bothering sellers and buyers during the auction.



Are they still allowing people to enter before and after the auction?

[Red Floyd]

Well, nice to know I got a look while I had the chance, but wotta bummer.

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: Tsukiji tourists told to mind manners

Workers at Tsukiji Market in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, which boasts the largest transaction of marine products in Japan, say they are annoyed by the bad manners of foreign tourists who visit the tuna auctions at the market. With an unprecedented boom of Japanese food in Europe and North America, the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market in Tsukiji is becoming more and more well known among tourists who come to Japan. Most of the foreign visitors come to see the tuna auctions--an event incorporated in many Japan sightseeing tours--but buyers and auctioneers are annoyed by tourists who get in their way and touch the expensive fish. The market measures about 230,000 square meters, but visitors usually go to the block near the Sumidagawa river where the tuna auctions are held.

At 5:30 a.m., about 1,000 tuna are displayed on a floor section equivalent to the size of four tennis courts. This is also the time that foreign visitors stop by. One morning recently, there were about 50 foreigners standing in a section reserved for visitors. They cheered when the auction bell rang. Though many of them were Westerners, there were also several Asian visitors. As soon as they arrived at the auction block, some female tourists placed their hands on the tuna and got friends to take their photographs. They were impressed by the auctioneers, who were vigorously yelling out prices. The visitors, who said they had never seen such an interesting auction before, continued to take photos during the auction.

Neil Watson from California said he had never seen such large tuna before. He said Tsukiji Market was well known around the world, adding that a tourist guidebook said the auctioning at Tsukiji was lively. Mitch Sako, also from California, said that he was impressed by the hardworking buyers and auctioneers, adding it was wonderful to see such a traditional Japanese atmosphere. According to the workers, foreign tourists began visiting the market about 10 years ago. Tuna auctions were introduced in foreign tourist guide books and group tours were organized to visit the market. Since then, the number of foreign visitors has increased and the market became a regular sightseeing spot about two years ago, they said.

An employee in charge of public relations for a major travel agency said that markets selling their countries' specialties are always popular among tourists. "It doesn't surprise me that Tsukiji has become a popular sightseeing spot," he said. According to an official of the Tokyo metropolitan government office in the market, on a busy day, more than 200 foreign tourists stop by. The metropolitan government set up a special section for visitors, allowing them to get close to buyers and auctioneers. One fish broker said that while it is good for the market to get international attention, the tourists' camera flashes often annoy the workers. "Auctioneers and buyers sometimes can't concentrate on their fingers and hands [which are used to signal prices and purchases.] I hope they understand that this is a serious business place," he said.

A wholesaler pointed out that buyers use sharp hooks to move tuna weighing more than 100 kilograms."It's very dangerous for tourists to get so close," he said. English warnings posted by the metropolitan government office telling tourists to avoid flash photography have had little effect. "Because this is a place handling expensive products, visitors should mind their manners," the official said.

[Mulboyne]

[Greji]

Japan Times: Tsukiji looks to curb glut of pesky tourists".... they pose a hygiene risk and interfere with business...."

Interfere with business, I can see and have seen that in progress, but a hygiene risk? We're talking Tsukiji here! Hygiene is an unheard of word in that place!

[GomiGirl]

The number of times I have been to Tsukiji and been grouchy at some of tourists for their total lack of consideration that this is a working market. The signs clearly say where to stand and not to go onto the auction area but there will always be some twat with a video cam wandering around the tuna getting in the way.

Perhaps what they need to do is to start charging money to go into the viewing area and use that money to employ tourist wranglers to make sure the working guys are not tripping over tossers with cameras.

Hygiene is gilding the lilly somewhat but workers don't touch the stock but the tourists are always tempted to put their hands all over the frozen tuna like it is a petting zoo. Walking around the main market is fun and I will always buy stuff to help ease the pain for the vendors who you can see rolling their eyes at "another group of sticky beak tourists".

[TennoChinko]

The virus is contagious.

[Iraira]

The virus is contagious.

and where is this lovely place that might enjoy a Molotov?

[TennoChinko]

and where is this lovely place that might enjoy a Molotov?

What? You want to flame broil your sushi?
Barbarian!



Anyways, to make your pilgrimage complete, you need to visit Tsukiji.

More information here:

http://www.occidentalism.org/?p=827

and here:

http://www.debito.org/index.php/?p=1210

[Iraira]

What? You want to flame broil your sushi?
Barbarian!

I just wanted to put it in the microwave for a few minutes...maybe burn off some mercury, y'know....

Ok, I'll go shave the hair off of the soles of my feet...barbarian that I am.

[Mulboyne]

This sign is causing a minor net disturbance. Debito first posted the picture here when someone sent it into him. Not everyone agreed that the sign was ill-intentioned and some posted comments to Debito's site complaining that he was seeing things too much in black-and-white. Now some bloggers associated with Occidentalism have announced that they were able to speak with the restaurant owner civilly and he has greed to remove the sign. They claim that Debito censored their comments on his blog and to confirm their own view that the issue was one of miscommunication rather than racism, they have a short interview with the restaurant owner. The tit-for-tat has spilled over onto other sites such as Japan Probe and Ampontan.

The main charge aimed at Debito, alongside the censorship issue, is that he was more interested in shouting "racism" than attempting to engage in discussion. He is also accused of making it seem that these sorts of signs are more prevalent than they actually are. Debito has pointed out that he contacts establishments when he sees similar signs but, in this case, he didn't know anything about it apart from the claim it was in Tsukiji. He asked on his site for someone to find out the name but no-one replied. He has in turn accused the other people of trolling his site by raising questions about his methods and motives which he says he has already answered numerous times.

Scanning through some of the exchanges, no-one really comes out well from this. It's fairly obvious that Debito doesn't do nuance and it has always been true that not all "No Foreigners" signs are meant to be malicious even though they will always seem that way to any foreigner who sees one. On the other hand, the guys who got the restaurant owner to take the sign down are really doing no more than following Debito's agenda. The may claim it is a kinder, gentler activism but it is difficult to imagine them engaging in it if they hadn't been provoked by Debito's style in the first instance.

[Mulboyne]

The Yomiuri says that workers at Tsukiji approve of the new rules. Flash photography is now forbidden and tourist groups are kept to a specific lane. No small children are allowed. The head of the market says the system appears to be working but he remains concerned that the restrictions may lead visitors to spill over into other market areas where they might cause other problems.

[Mulboyne]

Mainichi: Too many foreigners forces ban on tourists to Tsukiji fish market

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced a month-long ban on visitors to the famous fish auctions in Tsukiji from mid-December, blaming large numbers of foreign tourists for obstructing business. The metropolitan government has sent out a notice of the ban to embassies, hotels, travel companies and other businesses across the capital. The Tuna Markets, as they are known, are one of the three most popular tourist spots in Tokyo, alongside Akihabara and Asakusa. During early morning hours there were nearly 500 visitors on some days; but many working at the markets have complained of visitors' showing a lack of courtesy to staff.

According to a tuna wholesalers' association, the rush in foreign visitors started with the "sushi boom" 10 or so years ago, and has grown especially severe over the past five to six years, following news of the market's planned closure.While the auctions are technically off-limits to spectators, auctioneers have informally allowed people to watch from a designated area of the auction hall. With many taking flash photography or touching the produce, however, auctioneers and market workers alike have often been disturbed by visitors: "They can't understand the language, so we can't even warn them," complained one.

As a result, the metropolitan government has informed various tourism-related organizations of their decision to ban spectators at the morning auctions from Dec. 15 to Jan. 17. "It's not a bad thing for Tsukiji to gain attention, but with the risk of injury to visitors, and the potential to affect business during the busy Year End and New Year season, it's unavoidable," said a metropolitan official. But it's likely to take time for the news to filter round through signboards and leaflets, as there are many foreigners who visit the auctions individually after learning about the place by word of mouth. One Tokyo hotel said: "We've explained you can't enter the auction area before, but if you are asked for directions to Tsukiji, you have no choice but to tell them. All we can do is leave it to the judgment of our guests."

[Jack]

I went there one early morning many years ago. I quickly realized that I was bothering the people conducting business there so I left the market and wondered around the small shops that surround the market. I have never been back and I discourage friends to entre the place. If they go I tell them just to browse the small stores and eatt sushi at one of the many places in the area. I can understand their frustration at inconsiderate tourists.

[GomiGirl]

OMG I agree with Jack....

I have been there a number of times and have spoken to other people who have been disruptive. I have seen ignorant tourists wander around the fish with cameras while the guys have been trying to work. I have reminded people to stand within the viewing area like a cranky school mistress. It pissed me off to see so many inconsiderate people so I can understand how annoyed the people who work there every day must get.

[sublight]

The virus is contagious.

Reading through the sign, it looks like the shop owner is pretty cranky toward everyone, the English is just the short version.

[Mulboyne]

[Samurai_Jerk]

Mainichi: Too many foreigners forces ban on tourists to Tsukiji fish market

My girlfriend showed me an article in Japanese that said the market would be off limit to foreign tourists only. I wonder if that's true.

[omae mona]

James at Japan Probe points out the latest video from NTV. This one is pretty embarrassing, featuring tourists crossing ropes, touching and LICKING tuna, smoking next to the tuna, jumping and riding on official market vehicles. To top it off some of these tourists (actually I suspect some are FOB residents) basically mock the market staff while striking up conversations with them in super-rudimentary Japanese.

[dm]kSN2TAR2tWUC6ESvhn[/dm]

[baka tono]

Ive never been to Tsukiji and have no desire to go. Im only interested in the eating of tuna not the auctioning of tuna, especially 5am auctions!

For those that have been there were there lots of ordinary Japanese people walking around, watching the auctions, taking photos, and maybe shopping? Searching for the most watched video on youtube for Tsukiji I found this and the crowd seem to be all Japanese
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN02KzINVSU

No one misbehaves around a guy with a friggen sword.

[Samurai_Jerk]

James at Japan Probe points out the latest video from NTV. This one is pretty embarrassing, featuring tourists crossing ropes, touching and LICKING tuna, smoking next to the tuna, jumping and riding on official market vehicles. To top it off some of these tourists (actually I suspect some are FOB residents) basically mock the market staff while striking up conversations with them in super-rudimentary Japanese.

[dm]kSN2TAR2tWUC6ESvhn[/dm]

Fucking disgusting. I wonder how long till a fish monger takes a cleaver to one of these assholes.

[IkemenTommy]

Fucking disgusting. I wonder how long till a fish monger takes a cleaver to one of these assholes.

Bunch of fuckin euro white trashes ruining it for everyone.

[Takechanpoo]

Comments at Japan Probe

Although they seemingly blame those "rude" whites like other people's affairs,
they have the potentiality to do the same things. It is like blaming themselves in a mirror.
The reason why "upright" whites blame those "rude" whites is that they exposed what you whites don't want to be watched in the bottom of your hearts. Those "rude" whites are just honest to themselves.

[TennoChinko]

James at Japan Probe points out the latest video from NTV. This one is pretty embarrassing, featuring tourists crossing ropes, touching and LICKING tuna, smoking next to the tuna, jumping and riding on official market vehicles. To top it off some of these tourists (actually I suspect some are FOB residents) basically mock the market staff while striking up conversations with them in super-rudimentary Japanese.

[dm]kSN2TAR2tWUC6ESvhn[/dm]

The subtitle in the video somehow gets it wrong at 1:56. They indicate the guy says "watashi wa Furansujin desu".

Actually, he's giving his own name "watashi wa Constantine desu...".

Meet "Constantine".

[Tsuru]

So many cleavers and bandsaws, yet so little action.

[Adhesive]

Although they seemingly blame those "rude" whites like other people's affairs,
they have the potentiality to do the same things. It is like blaming themselves in a mirror.
The reason why "upright" whites blame those "rude" whites is that they exposed what you whites don't want to be watched in the bottom of your hearts. Those "rude" whites are just honest to themselves.

"Rude" describes a behavior, not a mental state. If you're claiming that all white people would love going around licking random tuna, if it weren't for fear of repercussion, you're 100% correct.

But, that doesn't mean we can't criticize other white people for not having the foresight to restrain themselves.

[Ketou]

Saw that clip on the news this morning. See those foreigners are barbarians.