As their journey in Tokyo comes to an end, SJMC Japan students ventured to Tsukiji Outer Market and Ad Museum Tokyo.
The historic Tsukiji Outer Market opened in 1935 and is one of Tokyo’s major tourist attractions. Prior to 2018, it was the largest seafood and wholesale fish market in the world. However, due to temperature control issues, a new market in Toyosu was opened that is nearly twice as large. The market consists of several restaurants, fish vendors and retail stores.
Stefan Chupp, a digital media innovation senior, was initially stunned by its size, but was quickly reassured by the market’s fresh ambiance.
“Well, I got very overwhelmed at first,” Chupp said. “But then I heard all of the food sizzling, and I got happy!”
Tsukiji Outer Market not only sells fresh fish, it also houses several vendors selling various meats, drinks and sweet treats! Items such as black sesame ice cream, flattened seafood crackers and fresh orange soda with a whole orange on top were popular among SJMC Japan students. However, one food item stood out the most: the wagyu beef skewers.
Cat Chan, a human development and family sciences sophomore, was so drawn by the wagyu that she purchased it three times!
“I’ve never tasted wagyu before,” Chan said. “If you didn’t know, it’s like really high-quality meat, and it was so delicious.”
Trinity Eilert, a digital media innovation senior, also tried many different foods but declared that the wagyu beef was her favorite dish from the entire market.
After the Tsukiji fish market, SJMC Japan students traveled to Ad Museum Tokyo. The free attraction, which opened in 2002, showcases Japan’s rich history in advertising and houses a collection of approximately 330,000 items, spanning from the Edo period to present day.
Arman Hopkins, an advertising junior, enjoyed how unique Japanese advertisements were and how they differ from American ads.
“I just really enjoyed how creative these ads are,” Hopkins said, “especially going through to different eras.”
The museum is also home to a library containing literature that focuses on advertising communication. The library opened in 1966 as the Yoshida Hideo Memorial Advertising Library and continues today as part of the museum. Angie Vasquez, a mass communication graduate student, found an interesting book, “The Art of Noticing” by Rob Walker, that led her to do a second lap around the museum.
“There was this one chapter on how to notice things in an art museum, so I was like, ‘Great! Now I have to do this museum all over again,'” Vasquez said. “And I enjoyed it way more the second time around.”
After Ad Museum Tokyo, SJMC Japan students broke off and enjoyed their final moments of free time exploring as much as they could of what Tokyo has to offer.
Miya Coleman, a journalism junior, explored several districts, visiting various record stores and purchasing items that are not easily obtainable in the United States.
“I went to a bunch of local underground record stores to buy some rare discography,” Coleman said, identifying pre-revolution “Iranian CDs that you can’t obtain in the United States because it was not legal to produce or export them in Iran after 1979.”
Other students returned to Harajuku for shopping and cat cafes, among other interests. Eilert said that the cats were very cute and well taken cared of by the cafe.
“All the animals were fluffy and adorable,” Eilert said. “It was a whole process: you had to agree to not pick up the cats and follow the rules to keep the cats safe.”
After the cat cafe, Eilert and some of her classmates made their way to a karaoke place where they wound down and enjoyed cheap, delicious food.
“Cat [Chan] took us to karaoke where you can go up there, and you order food [for] the room,” Eilert said. “So you can eat and do karaoke at the same time!”
While students scattered to explore Tokyo one last time, SJMC Japan Academic Program Director Gilbert D. Martinez, faculty partner Jon Zmikly and graduate assistant Vasquez joined Toshi Ogura and his students from Hitotsubashi University for dinner at an izakaya in Asakusa.
The SJMC Japan students’ time in Tokyo has nearly come to an end. They’ve packed their bags and are prepared to leave the city tomorrow on the shinkansen—anticipating the memories that they’ll make in Hiroshima.
About The Author
Very informative article. Love the view points and personal experiences of different individuals.