Tokyo’s new wholesale market, the nation’s food center, finally made one step forward toward completion in 2016. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on February 28 at a 44ha land in Bay area in Koto-ku with attendance of some 150 relevant officials. The market comprises four buildings totaling 390,000m2 gross floor area.

Mr. Ando, Vice Governor of Tokyo, addressed at the ceremony that he expected contractors to undertake the work safely and to display the state-of-the-art technology. “Once complete, it will be one of the largest and most advanced wholesale markets in the world,” said President of Nikken Sekkei Kenichi Okamoto, the design contractor of the project. Representing the construction contractors, Youichi Miyamoto, President of Shimizu Corporation said that they were honored to work on such great project, promising their dedication to the project.

The construction works are divided in four packages, which were awarded to four consortia led by Shimizu Corp, Taisei Corp., Kajima Corp. and Kanto Construction Co at the total cost of more than 110 billion yen. (2014/03/02)