Takaki Tominaga
Kyodo News
TÖKYÖ — Filmmaker Naotaro Endo visited Tö-
kyö’s Tsukiji fish market for the first time in 2012 and was totally intrigued by the place often called “the world’s largest fish market.”
“I was amazed by the spectacular taste of the fish that was recommended by an intermediate wholesaler, and that experience made me interested in Japan’s fish-eating culture as I became a frequent visitor,” he said.
Endo decided to turn his passion for the market into a documentary film with foreign audiences in mind.
“I hope this film will trigger people’s interest in Tsukiji and the essence of Japanese food culture,” Endo said of his film, “Tsukiji
Wonderland,” which will be shown twice at the Hawaii International Film Festival — Saturday, Nov. 5, at 3:30 p.m., and Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 8:30 p.m. at the Dole Cannery Theatre.
He also hopes the film will inspire viewers, especially Japanese viewers, “to think about
passing on our food culture to future generations in the best possible way.”
“Tsukiji Wonderland” was recently released in Japan. It will also be shown in Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore.
Endo began filming the 110-minute documentary in 2014. It takes viewers behind the scenes of the market for about 16 months, recording the distinct tenor of the four seasons and following the daily routine of industrious professionals as they go about their work.
The Tsukiji fish market opened in its current location in 1935 after moving from the Nihonbashi area following the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.
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