“Nihonbashi is …”
Nihonbashi district is north of Ginza and northeast of Tokyo station. Nionbashi Chuo-ku is a business and commercial district with a history of the samurai era. Nihonbashi Fish Market originated in the 17th century as a sales point for fish.
Nihonbashi history is interesting because there was a trace of Japanese Merchant history in this area. And there are many signature spots for sightseeing such as the Japanese first department store, Red brick buildings of the Tokyo station and Sumida River. Nihonbashi department store is long established and they have many kinds of items such as premium Japanese Sake, interesting sweets, traditional kitchen ware and Kimono.
“Beginning of the fish market in Tokyo”.
Before the 17th century, there’s no fish markets officially in Tokyo, until “Mori Magoemon” started his fish market. Normally, in samurai society, nobody was allowed to sell their fish. So why was Magoemon allowed to do that? This is the beginning of the Tokyo fish market stories.
“On the occasion of Revolution, HONNOUJI NO HEN”
Magoemon was just a small fisherman and didn’t have so much power. But his life changed suddenly, because he met “Tokugawa Ieyasu” who made the longest Samurai Nation later, in the 17th century. Since he met Ieyasu, he helped his work a lot as the one of Ieyasu’s retainers. And this was what changed his life so much.
In 1582, the biggest Japanese coup d’état “HONNOUJI NO HEN” occurred. And Japan’s strongest samurai “Oda Nobunaga” was beaten in this accident. Because of this unexpected revolution, “Tokugawa Ieyasu”, he lost his best partner who had the strongest power. And all of Ieyasu’s team were shocked and they were in a mess of their life.
This incident was the biggest change for all samurai soldiers in Japan. After that, Ieyasu was isolated in Osaka city which is not Ieyasu’s territory. And he was surrounded by enemies in the blink of an eye. At that time, “Mori Magoemon” suggested an escape route to Tokugawa Ieyasu. It was not the time for fighting yet, because they had to survive firstly. Everything was for their common dream “One Samurai Nation”.
“SHIN KUN IGA GOE”
Kanji character “越 Goe” meanings going the long and winding road. It actually means overcoming the difficulty. Magoemon and his Marine team got the evacuation ship for Ieyasu. Thus they could make the secret route for Ieyasu in the sea. After 5day’s evacuation, Ieyasu and their team could go back to their own castle finally.
Thanks to Magoemon’s excellent job, they all escaped safely to his territory and waited for the chance to become the lord of samurai. This escape was later known as “SHINKUN IGA GOE” and the Magoemon marine team gave a big assist to Ieyasu who is called “SHIN KUN”.
“Initiator of Tokyo Fish Market”
20 years later, Japanese internal conflicts were suspended by their team “Tokugawa Shogunate”. Finally, our country was unified by one Samurai nation. In this way, the EDO-period started. After that, Magoemon was allowed his own fish market. His shop was tiny, but this is the beginning of Nihonbashi Fish Market.
At that time, fresh fish and products were displayed at the street vendors along the Nihonbashi River. They kept running their market operations for 300 years, until they moved to Tsukiji Fish market. That was a really tough and wonderful job and “Mori Magoemon” was the initiator of Tokyo Fish Market technically.
