It is, rightly, one of the main tourist sights of Tokyo but, for me, Tsukiji is more than that: it is one of the great wonders of the modern world – a testament to man's greed, ingenuity, magnificence, courage and downright, short-sighted stupidity. It is also, of course, a living, daily-updated catalogue of global sea life. Everything is here, from shrimps the size of eyelashes, to vast slabs of whale blubber.

There are plans to demolish it and move the market to a location further out in the bay so if you have the chance, go and see it sooner rather than later.

On the way in.

Ah, uni…

Something possibly not nice.

Sea squirts. Or hernias. Not sure.

Don't tell George Monbiot!

It's not what you think. Wait. What were you thinking?

Very expensive frozen food.

Elvers. Long way from Gracelands.

That's going to take some microwave.

Pampered prawns.

Okay, gather round guys. This is the one that stole our sand.

Anyone feel a bit of a draught.

Mop heads.

Monkfish livers. Or polar bear lips. Not sure.

A fascinating if gruesome technique for keeping fish fresh: the fishmonger half chops the fish's head off then sticks a piece of wire down its spine. They don't seem to mind.

Whale meat, get it while it's hot.

Fish eggs grown on seaweed. What will they think of next?

Scorpion fish. You'd look pissed off too if that damned fugu kept grabbing all the toxic seafood headlines.