Tsujiki Fish Market

"They sicken of the calm, who new the storm" j Harrison-
Toyko Japan
This was going to be a dream day for me. To actually see a Blue Fin Tuna auction take place at the heart of it all ,Worldwide…. One problem a national holiday – Closed. I learned a bit researching it before I went. The Blue Fin arrives at market (Flash frozen from all over the world) at 5:00 pm they get sorted and marked w/ a red character. Then at 3:00AM the buyers get to look over the stock. At 5:30 AM the auction begins (lot # X, how much will you pay? And so on) The buyers (thousands of them) are allowed to cut a small piece from the tail section to thaw in their hands , inspect and taste.I can imagine how excited and loud it get’s w/ the Japanese language often sounding like shouting to my untrained ears. The word for “yes ,that’s it” is HEY! So everybody sounds like they are shouting HEY . They only let in 140 visitors to this auction daily because its business and not a tourist attraction. I’m told ,people do not have the right of way the Fish do! So get out of the way of the forklift carrying the Tuna or else!! This process can generate $22,000,000 a day in revenue!! It is said to be the kitchen for 12,000,000.
On the bright side I didn’t have to get up at 3:45 to get in. We had something to eat and wondered down to the market and many of the outlying stalls and storefront spaces were open. We did see a demonstration of a 400 lb Bluefin being flitted and sectioned into Sushi .The demonstration was being filmed by some kind of Japanese morning show crew. We were even given free pieces to try. It was perfect! The knives used were actually huge swords -think Samurai for real!
All in all it was cool to be in the Landing Zone of the Tuna I have been part of catching back home on Cape Cod.

We set sail from Yokahama Japan to Honolulu Hawaii a couple days ago(it's a 10 day crossing!) and the Pacific gave us a dose of big sea. 10-15 feet the 1st 24hrs . The ship and anything not battened down was getting tossed. We had two sea sick little ones along w/ half the student body. Dec did a nice job of hurling on his breakfast plate not on himself. He was good to go in about 5 minutes so it was really nothing. Layne actually was seasick for the afternoon but felt better by night time. Anna was staying clear of any of that business.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, but it really didn't feel anything like it until dinner. The chef and crew did a special dinner for extended families. I think I told you we "adopted" a student to share meals w/ and generally see around, she plays w/ the kids , etc.. Her name is Heather and she's great. We had our Turkey dinner w/ her and talked about what traditions we each have at home on T-Day. It was fun. We are going to meet her Dad and a brother in Hawaii they are flying to see her..

We are all thinking of home . It has been an eyeopening adventure all the way. The ports of call

, the people we have met and lived w/, life at sea, the closeness of family, the cultures we have walked in, and just reflecting on what is important in life.

Seek out a way to help out someone else when you can , even in the littlest way and you know your thinking is on the right course.

Keep dreaming

ps I have to thank Z and Trudi for keeping FishAye Trading on the Map at Wellesley Market Place . I know what a big effort that is , so thankyou and everyone else who helped (Bummper , Ty, TD , Annie) I have certainly come away w/ some great ideas on this voyage and maybe even a fish rubbing or two.

Capt J

Latitude- 29' 56'N

Longitude 150' 020' E

sea depth - 20,098 feet deep!!!

sea water temp 77'f

wind 28 knots

sea swell 12 feet

sea contitions 13 feet

distance to nearest land 565 NM east north east from Muko Shima (Japan)

distance to Honolulu 2782 NM