Hiroyasu Ito, chairman of the Tsukiji Market Association, has been "extremely shocked" twice in the past two weeks by the latest twist in the world-famous fish market's relocation plan.
The chairman of major fish wholesaler Chuo Gyorui Co. had seen subsidiary Hohsui Corp. invest ¥7 billion in preparations for the move from Tokyo's Chuo Ward to the Toyosu district about 2 km south.
But on Aug. 31, new Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, elected July 31, suddenly announced that the Nov. 7 relocation would be suspended over soil pollution concerns at the Toyosu site.