Under the leadership of new female Governor
of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, a major secret made by bureaucracy was revealed,
causing national sensationalism. Koike announced last Saturday that basement of
new Toyosu wholesale market mostly finished had not been covered with soil for blocking
possible contamination. Staffs of Tokyo Metropolitan Government concealed the
fact that they ignored recommendation from the experts. Moving schedule of
current Tsukiji Market to Toyosu will inevitably be delayed.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government decided to
move Tsukiji Market, known as the greatest fish market in the world, to a new
one in Toyosu in 2001. But, the selected place was formerly used by Tokyo Gas Co.,
where benzene was detected in its soil or underground water exceeding
environmental regulation level. Experts recommended Tokyo government in 2008 to
replace the soil for the market with depth of 2 meters and accumulate additional
soil on it with height of 2.5 meters.
Koike had unusual press conference on
Saturday to report that the replacement of soil under some main buildings
already built had not been finished. The basis of the buildings was not
contained with soil, but left as empty space with height of 4.5 meters
surrounded by concrete. Floor of the space was covered with concrete with only
10 centimeters of thickness.
Buyers or sellers of fish have been
believing that the land was covered by fresh soil to block contamination. At
the time of starting construction in 2014, however, the market was designed
with empty space under those buildings. Introducing the soil is expensive, anyway.
Empty space option could reduce the cost for new market. It is possible that
safety measures to protect fresh fish were ignored for economic efficiency.
The plan was activated under the leadership
of former Governors, including Shintaro Ishihara. There was another plan to use
the underground space as car parking to produce income with parking fee, which
was not adopted. If Koike had not reveal the fact, the change of plan might not
be announced to the public.
Significant enough, the floor of
underground space is now covered with water with depth of tens of centimeters.
It is not clear so far whether the water caused by raining or leaking of
underground water. If it is determined as underground water, it is possible that
it contains chemical material. Needless to say, the market deals with fresh raw
fish that will be eaten for sushi or sashimi. Current plan needs to be changed not
let the consumers afraid of eating poisonous food.
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