May 10, 2005, Straits Times (Singapore)

TOKYO - THE world's biggest fish market - Tsukiji in the heart of Tokyo - yesterday closed its famous tuna auction to tourists whose 'Ooos' and 'Ahhs' at the jumbo seafood have proven too much for merchants to handle.

The market on the edge of the upscale Ginza shopping district has traditionally accepted streams of tourists, many of them foreigners, who come in when trade opens at dawn and top off their experience with a sushi breakfast.

But the excitement during tuna auctions has distracted the fishmongers from their serious business.

'Sometimes we see as many as 100 tourists for tuna auctions, which take place around 5am or so. The flashes of their cameras make it difficult for auction organisers and participants to see numbers displayed,' said Mr Shigeo Hagiwara of the metropolitan government.

'Some tourists touch fish on sale, making sanitation a big concern for us,' said Mr Hagiwara.

'Auction participants use big hooks to handle frozen tuna. Some tourists got too close to the auction and were hurt. We want to prevent those incidents from happening again. Tourists are affecting operation of the market,' he added.

Tourists will still be able to enter the premises of the market, but the tuna auction area will be roped off.

But Mr Hagiwara said the market is unlikely to physically evict any tourists who defy the ban.

The Tsukiji market handles 2,246 tonnes of seafood worth more than US$17 million (S$28 million) daily. It sells 450 kinds of seafood, of which tuna is the most popular. -- AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE