People begin to arrive for work at this market around 2 a.m. The first auction of the day begins at around 4:30 a.m. just before dawn. This market has both oroshi, or wholesalers, and nakaoroshi, or brokers. The wholesalers run the auctions, while the brokers decide on the prices for the items beforehand and sell them to the different fish markets and sushi shops. Only those with special permission are allowed to shop here.

So what actually happens at an auction? The time of the auction depends on the type of fish. The brokers, who have just gone down and inspected all of the fish, ring a bell to signal the beginning of the auction. The wholesalers begin the auction and the bidders use secret hand signals to signify they are interested in buying and the price they are willing to pay. In a flash, the auction is over and the price decided. The highest bidder takes the prized fish home. Everything happens quickly and there is no room for hesitation. We have some actual audio from the auction, so close your eyes and imagine the scene unfolding.