Japan Press Weekly

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2011 March 23 - 29 [TOKYO]

Tokyo JCP demands that Tokyo governor not move fish market to proposed site

The Great East Japan Disaster has liquefied many parts at the proposed site to which Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro is planning to move the Tsukiji fish market. It has become obvious that the proposed site, previously used for a Tokyo Gas plant, is vulnerable to damage from earthquakes.

About 90 instances of soil liquefaction and sand boiling were confirmed at the proposed site, according to the Japanese Communist Party Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly members’ group.

The group on March 22 again made representations to Governor Ishihara to demand that the plan to relocate the market to the Toyosu district, the proposed site, be cancelled.

The JCP Tokyo assembly members’ group stated that the site is contaminated with high concentrations of toxic substances and is thus already inappropriate for the site as a fish market. In addition to this, the group said, insufficient countermeasures against soil liquefaction have come to light with the earthquake.

The Tsukiji fish market, in contrast, did not turn to liquid in the massive quake although several cracks in walls and mortar were found. The group pointed out that the existing market facilities proved to be resistant to earthquakes to a certain extent.