This morning I had the occasion to visit for the second time only in no less than 36 years the Shizuoka Ryuutsuu Auction Market (real name. Shizuoka Gyouichi/静岡魚市!
It is very similar to Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, on different scale naturally, but still really big as it serves a Prefecture population of nearly 4,000,000 souls!

The reason I visited the market as early as 7:00 after the actual auctions was that I had to apply for a filming permit from the city officials (the place is directly supervised by the local government) on behalf of a TV crew dispatched at the end of this month by 3 Sat.online/NANO, a big German TV Channel.

Small restaurant on the second floor.

Actually the whole is strictly supervised by the city.
Casual visitors are allowed in. Full stop.
Casual buyers are not allowed in. Full stop.
Filming, albeit very restricted requires an official permit from the city.
Even so, you certainly need the right connections!
Mind you, we only got a permit to film Chef Shibata buying his ingredients at the market. Actual auctions taking place between 5:0 and 6:00 a.m. are simply no man’s land!

Chef Susumu Shibata/柴田算 and Mr. Yasushi Imaizumi/今泉康, the gentlemen who made it possible!
But I do have the right connections…LOL

The place is big and a lot of heavy machinery is needed for quick transport of goods.
You had better watch your back atually as there is always a danger of being run over. Honestly!

Since I had been allowed in I took the opportunity of taking (unauthorized?) pictures of the goods dealt with inside!

I started with the fish and seafood area where authorized visitors can make their purchases after the auction.

Buyer and seller haggling?

Frozen tuna, probably Albacore/Binnaga・ビンナガ a species typical of Shizuoka Prefecture!

The tails are always cut before the auction for quality check!

The heads, tails and bones are also on sale!

Cuts ready to be delivered!

Still frozen pieces have to cut with a saw!

But the best morsels are cut by hand!

Beware the Marlin/Kajiki/カジキ/’s sword!

The Japanese eat all kinds of shell fish: Pen shells/Tairagai/タイラガイ!

Enormous oysters/kaki/牡蠣!

Whelks/Tsubogai/壺貝!

Snow crabs from the North of Japan!

Horse mackerel/Aji/鯵！

Small Black Back Sardines/Seguro Iwashi/背黒鰯!

Ika Soumen/いかそうめん/Cuttle Fish cut in fine strips!

A true Japanese delicacy! Herring roe on seaweed/Ko mochi konbu/子持ち昆布!

A Shizuoka specialty: Splendid Alfonsino/Kinmedai/金目鯛!

Delicate small seabreams/Kodai/小鯛 and Tongue Soles/Shitzbirame/舌平目!

Salmon/Shake/鮭!

I then went to have a peek at the agricultural products on sale!

Boxes, boxes and more boxes…!

“White” bitter melon/Shiroi Goya/白いゴヤ!

Paprika/パプリカ!

Rare Hasuimo/ハスイモ!

Hoped you enjoyed the visit!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery