Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2012

On the fourth Saturday of every month, Narita Wholesale Market (39-1 Iinaka, Narita, Chiba; www.nrtk.jp) offers up Waku Waku Kansha Day (“Excited Excited Thank You Day”) from 9ish to lunchtime. Take part in events such as the ingenious “vegetable roulette” and other ways to win market produce. From 9:30am a huge tuna is publicly dissected, and sold in nigiri form, (¥300 for two pieces). On August 25, in a late nod to unagi matsuri, the first 40 elementary school kids who grab a ticket from 9am (one per family) can pull freshwater eels out of tanks for an on-the-spot fry-up.