The first such tour was aimed at showing members of the public the present state of the controversial site, after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in August last year announced a decision to postpone the transfer of the aging Tsukiji market in the capital's Chuo Ward to the Toyosu market in neighboring Koto Ward, due to concerns over soil contamination and other reasons. The market relocation was originally slated for November 2016.

The metropolitan government initially planned to accept some 60 people for the tour. Finally, however, it decided to increase the number to 100, after as many as about 1,500 applied to join the tour.

The participants were divided into two groups, with one visiting the Toyosu market in the morning and the other in the afternoon, each for two hours. Tokyo government officials took them around such facilities as a building for vegetable and fruit trading, and another for fishery products trading. (Jiji Press)