His plan, which is supported by big wholesalers but opposed by many of Tsukiji's white-aproned fishmongers, has been around for a while.

A deaf gardener, aproned, masked with Matthew Arnold's face, pushes his mower on the sombre lawn watching narrowly the dancing motes of grasshalms.

Twenty-four black-aproned judges were wielding their distinctive tasting spoons at the Cup of Excellence competition, searching for the country's best coffee.