Continued traffic congestion around the Toyosu Market in Koto Ward, Tokyo -- the result of traffic restrictions related to the Tokyo Olympics -- has been causing headaches for the wholesalers and other businesses that use the market.
The main road connecting the market to the center of Tokyo is closed, which has caused vehicles to crowd onto alternate routes, affecting deliveries of fruits, vegetables and fresh fish.
"Hurry or we won't make it," said Tomoyuki Nagai, 44, at the market's loading area at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. Nagai, president of the fruit and vegetable wholesaler Nagai Shoten, was calling to his employees as he checked vegetables to be delivered to customers.
Almost every weekday, the firm lays in vegetables at the market around 4:30 a.m., and Nagai and two of his employees each drive a minivan to deliver them to about 20 locations, including ramen shops in Tokyo.
Traffic jams began to occur in the middle of this month. Circular Route No. 2 -- which connects the city center and the waterfront area where the market is located -- is closed to traffic because it is located near the Olympic Village. As a result, the roads around the market started to get crowded, especially in the morning, with delivery vehicles and vehicles related to the Olympics.
Nagai said he and his staff tried to work earlier in the mornings, but they have sometimes had to apologize for late deliveries.
Since the opening of the Games on July 23, traffic restrictions around the competition venues have caused congestion in many parts of Tokyo. Traffic jams around the market intensified on Monday and Tuesday due to the triathlon that was held in Odaiba, near the market.
During the Olympics, Nagai's company is under strict orders from client hotels where people related to the Games are staying to make deliveries by 9 a.m. As the traffic situation changes on a daily basis in accordance with the Olympic Games, Nagai said they have to be flexible and take a variety of measures to make it on time.
"In our industry, if you're not punctual, you'll lose business in a flash," Nagai said. "We've dropped 30% amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. There will be more events in Odaiba, so we have no choice but to get going as soon as possible."
Isetoyo, which deals exclusively in tuna, is also keeping a close eye on the crowded conditions around the market. Normally, employees load products in their vehicles and leave the market at around 10 a.m. to be in time for sushi restaurants' lunch service, but they left earlier on Monday and Tuesday.
"We can't predict the time, so we tell our customers in advance that we might be late. We want to make sure we don't cause any trouble," said company president Yoshio Kikuchi, 79.
On Monday and Tuesday mornings, the first weekdays after the opening of the Games, there were traffic jams on roads leading to the city center, including the Kawagoe Kaido road in Itabashi Ward, the Koshu Kaido road in Shibuya Ward and the Tamagawa-dori road in Meguro Ward, according to the Japan Road Traffic Information Center. Traffic was also congested near the competition venue in the waterfront area.
So far, there has been no significant impact on home delivery or postal services.
"Although many companies and residents have cooperated in reducing traffic, some have been affected. We want to continue to call for less travel by road," a Tokyo metropolitan government official said.
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