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  • Eurgh.

  • Stupid alarm clock.

  • It’s 4 o’ clock in the morning.

  • I don’t think I’ve got up this early since

  • ever.

  • Honestly, I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone.

  • Today we are off to explore the world’s largest fish market,

  • It’s often described as one of the must see things to do in Japan.

  • And though I’ve been a few times before,

  • I’ve never really been into the market in the morning rush hour

  • But fortunately, a friend who works for a popular sushi chain, has offered to take us in and show us behind the scenes firsthand.

  • So I think, I can justify getting up this early

  • Just this once.

  • Let’s go.

  • Over 2,000 tons of marine products are handled at Tsukiji fish market everyday.

  • Due to the dangerously chaotic atmosphere tourists aren’t actually allowed in until 9am.

  • However, thanks to our friend Mr Kondo, we were given some magic orange clothing, so we could access the entire market.

  • And almost get run over.

  • It’s like some sort of video game. Or obstacle course.

  • One wrong move could end in tragedy.

  • Being in here feels like being underwater.

  • The atmosphere is very damp - the air is quite damp. It’s such a bustling atmosphere.

  • I don’t think I’ve been anywhere quite like this ever.

  • With the tuna auction due to begin at 5.30, we headed over early to first inspect the fish.

  • It’s quite weird to be stood right here in the middle, of literally hundreds of tuna.

  • I’ve seen this on tv and videos and things all the time, but to be here for the first time in person is quite surreal.

  • And it’s such a weird atmosphere

  • Everybody inspecting the fish. Examining them so thoroughly.

  • In ways that I can’t even begin to comprehend.

  • How many people can you feed with one fish?

  • One sushi….12 grams.

  • One piece of sushi is 12 grams. How many sushi with that.

  • Maybe 3,000 pieces.

  • 3,000 pieces! With one fish?

  • With one fish?

  • One fish.

  • Woah. Oh my god. That’s quite a lot!

  • With the buyers having inspected the tuna for freshness and fat content and settling on their price, the bell began to ring signalling the start of the auction.

  • Buyers would quietly show their bid with a simple hand gesture.

  • The first tuna had been sold in just 10 seconds.

  • Everything happens so fast. They kind of do that with their fingers and it’s sold, it’s gone.

  • The auction has been going on for about 6 minutes and already half of the tuna have been carted off.

  • Off to their new owners to be chopped up and sold at tasty profit.

  • The largest and most prized tuna came in at 200 kilograms,

  • and was sold for a remarkable 2.6 million yen.

  • Not surprising given that this one fish could literally feed the 5,000.

  • Having witnessed the most intense and fast paced auction I’d ever seen,

  • and our tuna being carted off, it now made sense to go and give the tuna a real send off.

  • So later that evening we headed for Itamae sushi,

  • where we found our friend Kondo san outside, with his brand new haircut.

  • Along with the catch of the day and lots of impressed passers by.

  • It’s getting a good reaction from the street. Everyone’s looking and being amazed.

  • Itamae sushi has a reputation for having a ruthless pursuit of delicious sushi.

  • Every January the restaurant chain holds a ceremony to bless their first tuna catch of the year

  • Showing their appreciation to the tuna and bringing Itamae sushi good fortune throughout the year.

  • A ritual that fish and chips shops in the UK would do well to consider.

  • And tonight, the restaurant would be holding an event

  • where customers could watch the freshly caught being skillfully carved and prepared.

  • But before the event we decided to kick things off with a few pieces of sushi.

  • That looks rather exotic. Everyone’s taking pictures.

  • Take the picture! Go on!

  • The speed is phenomenal!

  • And it was all going well until my friend and I were dared to eat a large shrimp - a large shrimp that was still alive.

  • So theyre bringing out live shrimp for us to eat. I don’t know if I can actually do it.

  • I’ll just be sick.

  • I was actually quite excited but now I regret it. Shit.。

  • From excitement to dread.

  • Look at what just arrived.

  • I genuinely don’t think I can eat that.

  • Who is going to be the first to try it?

  • I don’t know how to eat it - as I supposed to remove the head?

  • After a few minutes the chef generously removed the head.

  • Oh the tale is moving.

  • Okay ready, 1, 2 , 3.

  • Ah it tastes good.

  • Very good.

  • I feel a bit like Gollum eating that.

  • But it was pretty good. Once the head had been taken off.

  • But when it was moving around,

  • that was terrifying. But yeah it was alright.

  • Unfortunately though, it turned out I still had to eat the head.

  • The headit can’t be edible. It can’t be edible surely.

  • Which is the best way to eat it. That way or that way?

  • Eat it all!

  • Look at his little eyes. He’s saying

  • Don’t eat me. I was killed 5 minutes ago.”

  • Come on!

  • It’s got a bit of a crunch.

  • Oh fuck me.

  • It’s crunchy.

  • It’s better than I was expecting.

  • Having successfully pretended to enjoy eating the shrimp

  • - it was time to see the freshly caught tuna being carved.

  • In many ways I’m not sure what was more impressive.

  • Seeing the gigantic tuna being carved up to reveal the delicious raw meat.

  • Or the overexcited reaction from the huge crowd of customers.

  • It took 20 minutes to carve the tuna and

  • as the sushi chefs went to work preparing the sushi.

  • We were able to scoop out the remaining tender raw fish using seashells.

  • No way. He’s scooping it out with a seashell.

  • Look at that.

  • Were going to scoop the tuna with this seashellscoop it out.

  • Wow. It’s really really easy to do.

  • But not when youve got a camera under your arm.

  • Very very good.

  • Having waited all day, it was time to try the freshly caught prepared tuna.

  • Oh yeah! That’s wahat I’m talking about.

  • That’s brilliant.

  • So good!

  • Such an awesome texture.

  • I need to think of some more adjectives to describe it!

  • Delicious,

  • outstanding,

  • magical,

  • perfect

  • Like a magic.

  • So that was Itamae sushi - one of the best sushi restaurants I’ve been to in Tokyo so far.

  • Its absolutely delicious, I highly recommend going

  • its a chain you can find throughout Tokyo.

  • And it’s so fresh! Straight out of Tsukiji fish market!.

  • Unfortunately the legendary Tsukiji fish market will be relocating in November 2016,

  • so if you have the chance make sure you go and check it out before the year is out.

  • Thanks for watching guys - now let us never speak of getting up, at 4am again.

  • Oh my god.

Eurgh.

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