Machida is a terminal station where redevelopment is underway in front of the station, and numerous commercial buildings stand side by side. After descending the pedestrian deck and walking for a few minutes, you will come across a shop with particularly impressive smiles and cheerful greetings as you walk along the Machida Nakamise Shopping Street, which has a history of over 70 years. This is "Maruhachi Tuna Shop."

"Maruhachi Tuna Shop" opened 14 years ago as a retail store for Maruhachi Fisheries, a tuna wholesaler with its headquarters in Hachioji.

The beginning of a business that was connected by "fate"

Maruhachi Suisan's main customers are restaurants, mainly in the Hachioji area. So why did such a company decide to open a retail store in Machida's long-established shopping district? Representative Komatsu Kazumichi explained the circumstances with a smile.

"In one word, it was fate. Maruhachi Fisheries was originally a company run by an acquaintance of my master, who was a tuna dealer. When he told me that his sales were declining and he was getting older, he wanted to quit, my master and I took over the business together, and that's how the business began."

It was also through connections that he was able to open "Maruhachi Tuna Shop" in Machida Nakamise Shopping Arcade.

"The Machida store was originally a fish shop run by a regular customer of Maruhachi Fisheries. The grandfather was running it alone, but I heard that he was going to close down due to his age. I was still in my 20s at the time, so I thought I might as well take over the store rather than close it down, and so I asked him to take over."

Aiming to be the "most lively store" in the shopping district

Although they started their business in the shopping district, the know-how of wholesale, which deals with professionals, and retail, which deals with general customers, are two different things, so it seems they continued to run their shop through trial and error.

"We had a lot of difficulties. We were a fish shop in an old shopping district lined with restaurants and general stores. No one would buy from us if we just ran our business normally," says Komatsu with a smile.

The first thing he did was to "encourage passersby to speak to them in a cheerful manner." He said he has been working on the sales floor with the aim of making the store more lively than anywhere else.

We want to deliver the delicious taste of real tuna

One of the attractions of "Tuna Shop Maruhachi" is the variety of side dishes that allow you to enjoy every last bit of tuna. The storefront is lined with products that will change your image of tuna dishes, such as fried and deep-fried tuna. Utilizing their network as a wholesaler, they are also able to offer high-quality tuna at reasonable prices, which is another advantage.

One of the most eye-catching items is the "Tuna Cup." This "eat-and-walk sashimi" consisting of slices of tuna served in a cup has been a signature item since the cafe first opened.

"When I first started selling it, other fishmongers would laugh at me, saying, 'There's no way something like that will sell.' But the novelty and ease of being able to immediately enjoy real tuna selected by a professional has gradually attracted fans. Even the younger generation who don't normally buy sashimi are picking it up."

"Just like humans, no two tuna are the same. We buy them by looking at the tail, but no matter how impressive the tail is, you won't know until you actually fillet it. When you come across a tuna that makes you want to squeal in excitement, it's really exciting."

The sparkle in Komatsu's eyes, who has been working with tuna for over 20 years, speaks to its appeal.

"It's really fun meeting so many people since setting up shop on the street in Machida. Machida has a mysterious charm where you can become friends with all kinds of people, from adults to children. In an age where shopping at supermarkets has become the norm, I'm happy to be able to continue running a fish shop where people can meet face to face, and every day I feel that Japanese people really do love tuna."

Even in the midst of a constantly changing cityscape, there are still smiling faces. Maruhachi will continue to deliver the deliciousness of tuna as a symbol of Machida's vitality.

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