1.A huge vacant lot at the former site of the world-famous Tsukiji fish market in central Tokyo will turn into a commercial and residential complex featuring a 50,000-seat stadium, a culinary center and a transportation hub slated to open in the 2030s.
2.The Tokyo Metropolitan Government selected a private consortium led by Mitsui Fudosan last week to be in charge of Tsukiji’s massive redevelopment to turn the waterfront land into the new face of Tokyo.
3.The metropolitan government plans to sign a basic agreement with the consortium by the end of this fiscal year. According to the proposal, the ¥900 billion ($5.8 billion) redevelopment aims to make the site a new transportation hub for not only a conventional subway and water bus, but also a flying car that might be hovering around the capital by the time the project is completed.
4.The planned stadium — with a retractable roof — is expected to host international sports games, live events and trade shows. In terms of area, the redevelopment will be massive compared with other projects in Tokyo, as it involves an 18.7-hectare plot of land, which is more than twice the area of Azabudai Hills that opened last year in the capital’s Minato Ward.
5.Mitsui Fudosan said that part of the new complex is scheduled to open in advance by March 2030, but the full opening will take place some time after fiscal 2032 when it will finish most of the construction work.
6.The new project also includes the construction of a facility for conferences and exhibitions with a ballroom that can accommodate 1,200 people. Since the site is located close to Tokyo’s two other major event venues — Tokyo Big Sight and Tokyo International Forum — it will be possible to use all three facilities in a unified manner to host large-scale events.
7. Given that the site was once home to the renowned Tsukiji fish market, the new complex will feature food as well. The developer plans to establish a research and development base called the Tsukiji Culinary Center for producing food-related innovation.
8. Office and residential buildings, a theater hall and a life science research center also feature in the redevelopment plans. Other than Mitsui Fudosan, the consortium consists of 10 other firms — Toyota Fudosan, the Yomiuri Shimbun Group, Kajima, Taisei, Shimizu, Takenaka, Nikken Sekkei, Pacific Consultants, the Asahi Shimbun and Toyota Motor.
9. The curtains came down on the Tsukiji fish market in 2018 after 83 years due to its aging infrastructure. The market has since relocated to Toyosu. Despite the relocation of the fish market, Tsukiji remains a popular tourist destination with a number of restaurants and shops still operating in the outer market area.
