The iconic site of Tokyo’s former Tsukiji fish market, which has been vacant since its demolition six years ago, is set to be transformed into a scenic waterfront stadium and gleaming skyscrapers, as revealed by plans for the 900 billion yen ($5.7billion) redevelopment project by Mitsui Fudosan.
However, these ambitious plans have met with some resistance. A promotional computer graphic video released by property giant Mitsui Fudosan showcases futuristic air taxis soaring over the Sumida river, known for its picturesque bridges, hinting at the grandeur of the proposed development.
This new proposal aims to fill the void left by the historic market, once celebrated for its lively tuna auctions and ultra-fresh sushi, with a modern complex that could compete with renowned waterfronts in cities like Sydney and Singapore, attracting visitors from around the world.
Despite the allure of the new development, which promises office spaces, event venues, lush green areas, residential buildings, hotels, and a biotech research hub, along with ample shopping and dining options, there’s a faction in Tokyo that would rather see the prime real estate turned into a park.
Jiro Ueda, an executive at Mitsui Fudosan responsible for development planning, expressed the company’s vision: “We are entering a new chapter. Over the years of Japan’s modernization, waterfronts were used for warehouses and factories. We want to build facilities for sports and entertainment to move people emotionally. We want to make Japan more economically competitive.”
A star-studded partnership featuring powerhouses such as Toyota Motor, Toyota Fudosan, construction heavyweights like Kajima, Taisei, Shimizu and Takenaka, architects Nikken Sekkei and Pacific Consultants along with the media moguls Asahi Shimbun and the Yomiuri Shimbun Group are uniting forces on a project. Their collaboration could well see the latter’s baseball squad the Yomiuri Giants calling the new stadium home.
Currently, the space which formerly housed the main fish market stands empty, a formidable 190,000 square-meter (47 acres) barren canvas of concrete, scattered with a handful of construction machinery and a tiny section gouged open for excavation. The city-owned land beside the Sumida River is within walking distance of the glitzy downtown Ginza and across a small bridge from Hamarikyu, a traditional Japanese garden with sculpted pine trees, a small forest and a tea house.
An echo from Tsukiji’s bountiful past, the remaining quintessentially ‘retro’ zone of the old marketplace, affectionately known as the “jogai” or the “outer area”, abounds with delightful sushi stalls and irresistible ice cream vendors and will continue to occupy its cosy corner in juxtaposition to the modern marvel sprouting up alongside it.
Setting sail for newer waters, Tsukiji’s fish trading operations embarked on a fresh journey in 2018 towards Toyosu, their up-to-date and even larger storehouse nestled elsewhere in Tokyo Bay. After the demolition of the market’s buildings, the vacant lot served as a parking area during the Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic. T
he city sought proposals in 2022 and by April had selected a consortium led by Mitsui, known for its involvement in New York’s Hudson Yards project, to take charge. Construction is set to kick off next year.
“Tsukiji is a special place for Tokyo. It’s so close to downtown, yet it’s surrounded by waterways and greenery,” Takuo Takano, a city hall official, expressed his vision. “It will become the face of Tokyo,” he shared with The Associated Press.
The ambitious development aims to integrate ferry services on the city’s rivers and Tokyo Bay with the urban subway network, creating a prime location for international conventions, trade fairs, summits, and tourism.
Describing the scale of the Tsukiji redevelopment, Sachiko Okada, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, remarked, “It will be like a giant city in itself. That location pick is right on the dot.” However, not everyone is on board with the new plans. Some local groups previously resisted the relocation of the historic fish market to Toyosu and continue to challenge the skyscraper project, citing concerns over increased pollution.
Shizuko Nagaya, an ecological consultant, suggests that a garden would be a more suitable use of the space. She also raises concerns about the safety of erecting densely populated structures on land reclaimed from Tokyo Bay in the 17th century, especially in the event of a major earthquake.
“This is a piece of land that belongs to the people,” Nagaya, who researches history and waterways, passionately stated. “We need a place with a blue sky, the sea breeze and lots of green, where our future children can play.”
Urban studies professor Christian Dimmer from Waseda University in Tokyo holds the view that the fish market should have remained in its original location, suggesting that developers could have capitalised on the area’s historical and cultural significance.
“Removing the fish market, relocating it far away to Toyosu, and replacing it with yet another luxury housing, hotel, shopping and entertainment complex makes central Tokyo less exciting and more mono-functional,” he argued. “The question must be asked whether the current redevelopment model is sustainable. Yet, despite this and other insights, the scrap-and-build development model of Tokyo is still largely unchallenged.”
City officials have indicated that the final details of the controversial development are still up in the air, assuring that there will be ample opportunity for public input. Meanwhile, Mitsui Fudosan is under fire for its involvement in other contentious projects, including the redevelopment of the verdant Jingu Gaien area, which is nestled between Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine and the Imperial Palace.
Critics are particularly vocal about the potential loss of the iconic gingko trees lining the streets, but the company has reassured that these trees and the natural landscape will remain untouched.
