You don’t have to be a sushi connoisseur to enjoy the Tsukiji Outer Market ... and some Wednesdays when it welcomes shoppers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; for the most activity, visit in the morning.

"My customers reminded me that the people who worked here tirelessly for 8 decades built trust and turned Tsukiji into a brand. I will never forget that, and will keep doing my best," Hayama says.