“Fish Street-vender in Japan”, c. 1920.

“The street peddlers and street hawkers of Tokyo are a little world of commerce all to themselves.

“So numerous and varied are they that the busy Japanese housewife need not step beyond her doorstep to find food, clothing, comforts, and amusements for her family. She need do no more cooking than the preparation of the daily rice and yet have a varied and nutritious menu placed three times a day upon the family board.

“… The fish-man calls upon his regular customers every morning, carrying live fish in shallow, wooden tubs swung from the tenbinn-bo. The customer makes her selection, the fish-man skillfully cleans the fish, and with a cheery ‘domo arigato‘, goes to the next customer.

“The streets in summer often hear the cry of the hiri-ami man, or the midday-catch fish-man. Fish are extremely perishable food, especially during the hot weather, and each day’s catch must be disposed of before night. Consequently when the fish-man finds he is going to have stock left over, he goes himself or sends someone to cry the fish on the street. Fish bought from the hiru-ami are very cheap.”

“Street Peddlers of Japan”, The Japan Advertiser, August 29, 1920