Famous Japan Market Destroyed By Fire in Quake-Hit City; Area Also Home to Go Nagai Mangaka Museum

The Yomiuri Shimbun

15:52 JST, January 4, 2024

WAJIMA, Ishikawa — One of the most famous morning markets in Japan has been destroyed by a massive fire that broke out after the strong earthquake.

The Wajima Morning Market in the central area of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, is said to have begun with bartering around the ninth century. Asaichi-dori avenue, where the market stood, was one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Okunoto region of Ishikawa Prefecture.

The avenue was lined with many long-established stores selling Wajima lacquerware, as well as souvenir stores and sake breweries. About 200 buildings were destroyed in the fire, leaving residents standing in a daze.

Asaichi-dori avenue was also home to the Go Nagai Wonderland Museum dedicated to Wajima-born manga artist Go Nagai, known for works including Mazinger Z. In recent years, the museum had become a popular destination for anime fans, attracting more than 500,000 visitors annually before the pandemic.