Why is it called a flea market?

As the name implies, flea markets primarily sell things that have been found on or at animals. While these items are often of little or no use to their previous owners, they may have a lot of sentimental value for the vendor. The vendors at flea markets are usually looking to flip their goods in order to make a quick profit.

What's the Japanese word for a flea market?

Humans have been gathering to trade goods and services for thousands of years. The first recorded flea market was held in China around 2500 BC. However, the Japanese culture and economy developed differently from the rest of the world. The first documented flea market in Japan was established in Tsukiji in 1617. It was created to help alleviate the economic burden of war.

Why is it called a flea market in Chinese?

The origin of the name is not entirely clear, but one story suggests that an ant infestation in the marketplace caused vendors to use fleas to drive away the pests. Another legend says that the Chinese word for “flea market” refers to the sound made when fleas jump on the back of a horse.

Why is it called a flea market in Japanese?

“Flea” is a loanword from Middle English meaning “a merchant who trades goods for small amounts of money”. The use of the term for a market was first recorded in the 14th century in Germany and England. A merchant selling goods in a market was called a “fled”. In the early years of the Tokugawa shogunate, the marketplaces were called “flea” marketplaces because of the small amounts of money

Why is it called a flea market in Japan?

The term “flea market” was first used in the West in the sixteenth century. In Japan, however, it was first used in the Edo period (1597-1868) to describe an itinerant market that traveled from town to town. These markets were usually held twice a week, on a Saturday and on a Monday, and were a place where food and goods were sold.