Tanga Market, known as “Kitakyushu’s Kitchen,” experienced a fire a year ago that destroyed the beloved neighbourhood. Another fire occurred in August 2022, but despite the tragedies, the area is rebuilding and showing signs of recovery.
A fire started on April 19, 2022, in Tanga Market and the nearby Shintanga Yokocho area in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. It burned through 42 shops and approximately 1,900 square meters of the market. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but many businesses were affected. In response, some stores set up temporary locations in the vacant lots left by the fire.
A 68-year-old resident of Kokurakita Ward in the city, Noriko Tanaka, who came to purchase food for her family, said, “The charm of Tanga Market is that I can think of a menu using the day’s vegetables while talking with the shop staff. The fire was a shock, but I’m glad to see this lively place for everyday shopping return.”
