The Oji Fox Parade is an event that reenacts a famous scene from a ukiyo-e print by Hiroshige in which foxes gather under a tree before visiting Oji Inari Shrine. The parade was held December 31, 2013 to January 1, 2014, in Oji, which is located in Tokyo’s Kita Ward. 108 people dressed as foxes, along with other participants with their faces made up to resemble foxes, paraded from Shozoku Inari Shrine to Oji Inari Shrine.

(January 1, 2014)

Senso-ji Temple in Taito Ward, Tokyo, was crowded with worshippers making the traditional New Year’s visit to the temple to offer prayers. Many tourists also visited the row of shops that line the street from Kaminarimon to the main hall of the temple.

(January 14, 2014)

Prior to the start of the Izu Oshima Camellia Festival, the Izu Oshima Product Exhibition was held January 15 to 21, at the Japanese Prefectural Tourism Corner located within the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Representatives promoted Izu Oshima in various ways, conveying the charms of the island with a smile, including by having young ladies dressed in the traditional colorful attire of the island hand out camellia saplings.
(January 15, 2014)

On January 24, the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government formally established the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020). (January 24, 2014)

(January 24, 2014)

Inokashira Pond was drained as a part of efforts to prepare for Inokashira Park’s centennial in 2017. In this traditional drainage practice, called kaibori, water is drained from the pond and the pond floor exposed to the sun to be dried out. The purpose of the drainage is to improve water quality and also to eliminate foreign fish species. Another round will be carried out in 2016, followed by yet another in 2018.

(February 7, 2014.)

On February 8, the Tokyo metropolitan area was hit by an extreme cold spell and recorded 27 centimeters of snowfall. This marks the first time since 1969 (45 years ago) that over 25 centimeters of snowfall was recorded in the heart of Tokyo.

(February 8, 2014.)

At 9:30 a.m. on February 12, Governor Masuzoe arrived at the front entrance of Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) Main Building No.1. The Governor, greeted by a performance from the Tokyo Fire Department Band and the applause of staff, received a bouqet of flowers with a smile.

(February 12, 2014.)

On February 28, the groundbreaking ceremony for the New Toyosu Market (tentative name) construction project was held in Tokyo’s Koto Ward. With the deterioration of the famous Tsukiji Market, it was decided in December 2001 that the market would be moved to Toyosu. Soil contamination countermeasure work was begun at the site in 2011, with the goal of establishing a safe and secure location for a perishable foodstuffs market.

(February 28, 2014. )

On March 4, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly held its first regular meeting of 2014. Representatives of each parliamentary group posed questions to the Governor Yoichi Masuzoe, his first such question-and-answer session in the assembly hall since assuming the post of Tokyo Governor.

(March 4, 2014)

The year marks the 57th Yushima Tenjin Plum Blossom Festival. Around 300 trees blossomed in the gardens, which have been famous for their plum trees since the Edo period. From February 8 to March 9, a variety of events were held here that attracted large crowds of visitors.

(Photo taken March 7, 2014)

On March 2, Tokyo Urban Planning Project Auxiliary Route 315 opened for use, running alongside the New Toyosu Market (tentative name) construction site. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Market was held previously on February 28, and now actual construction has started with the goal of completing by the end of 2015.

(Photo taken March 12, 2014)

On March 29, the 1.4-km road in Minato-ku, running from Shimbashi 4-chome, (“Daiichi Keihin”) to Toranomon 2-chome (Sotoboridori Ave.), opened for use. This route is expected to help strengthen the inner-city area’s road network and revitalize the surrounding area. The associated Toranomon building-redevelopment , undertaken through the Japanese system of constructing highways and buildings integrally such that the roads run through or under the buildings, is planned to be completed at the end of May 2014.

(Photo taken March 29, 2014)

Located in western Tokyo, Ome City is famous for its plum blossoms. Every year, crowds of tourists are drawn to the Ume-no-koen (“Plum Park”) in Yoshino Baigo. However, on April 4 it was decided that all 1,266 trees would be cut down in order to prevent the spread of the plum pox virus.

(Photo taken April 2, 2014)

On April 9, Governor Masuzoe toured western Tokyo’s Tama region, home to 4 million, to inspect vegetable farms and fire-prevention, welfare, and medical facilities. In the photo, Governor Masuzoe is conversing with a member of the Special Rescue Team about the special-purpose vehicle also pictured. The Special Rescue Team is a first among Japan’s police forces, a metropolitan police disaster relief specialist unit formed based on the lessons of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

(Photo taken April 9, 2014)

Near Asakusa, a tourist locale crowded with domestic and internationalvisitors, is Taito Ward’s Sumida Park, the site of the 32nd Asakusa Yabusame horse archery event on April 19. Each shooter dons 12th-century Kamakura period karishozoku hunting dress and, galloping his horse down a specially-constructed riding track of white sand 2 meters wide and 300 meters long, he shoots at 54-cm square targets placed in three different locations. On the day of the event, tremendous cheers and applause erupted from the 25,000-strong crowd of spectators whenever a shooter managed to strike his mark.

(Photo taken April 19, 2014)

People gather in Roppongi for the lively nightlife, and it was here that the overnight Roppongi Art Night 2014 was held from 10 am on April 19 to 6 pmon April 20. This year marked the 5th Art Night. All genres of art were produced and exhibited here by art museums, private facilities, cultural facilities, and others from throughout the entire Roppongi district.

(Photo taken April 19, 2014)

On May 18, one of Tokyo's most famous festivals, Sanja Matsuri, was held at Asakusa Shrine in the traditional downtown area of Tokyo. This festival has a long history dating back over 700 years to the first half of the 14th century, when it is said to have begun on the basis of a religious legend.

(May 18, 2014)

On May 23, Governor Yoichi Masuzoe visited the Sendagaya Trunk Pipe nearHarajuku, an area popular with young people, to inspect maintenance work being performed on the major sewage pipe. Originally known as the historic Ondengawa River and even depicted in Katsushika Hokusai's Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, the river was transformed into a culvert as a part of the urban redevelopment projects undertaken in the run-up to the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

(May 23, 2014)

On May 24-25, representatives of eleven Tokyo islands, including the Ogasawara Islands situated some 1,000 km south of the city, gathered at the Bay Area's Takeshiba Pier and Passenger Ship Terminal to hold the “Tokyo Islands Fair Shima-Jiman 2014” event to celebrate the islands” natural environments, culture, and unique products. The fair featured island cuisine, regional products for sale, and performances of folk entertainment. It was a lively event and crowded with families.

(May 24, 2014)

On May 29, in the suburban Tokyo commuter town of Machida City, an experiment was conducted using four white goats to weed the grounds of the Yamazaki housing complex. First attempted in autumn of last year, the goats not only weeded the grounds but the sight served as a source of comfort for residents as well. This method of weeding is also planned to be carried out at the Tamadaira-no-Mori housing complex later this year.

(May 29, 2014)

　On June 2, Governor Yoichi Masuzoe toured the nature-rich Tama area and stopped in to chat with children at a nursery school built using Tama-grown timber. In the afternoon, the Governor visited the Ome Livestock Center, where he received a general overview of the research performed on the “Tokyo-X,” a breed of pig developed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government; the “Tokyo Gamecock,” a type of chicken with high-quality meat; and the “Tokyo Silkie,” a type of chicken with highly rare and precious eggs and meat. The Governor also received an explanation of the epidemic-prevention framework established for these animals, as well as other topics. Afterward, he sampled food prepared using traditional Tokyo vegetables.

(June 2, 2014)

　On June 16, the Sanno Kajo Festival was held at the Sanno Hie Shrine in Akasaka, one of Tokyo’s leading business districts. At this festival, confectioners gather before God to create Japanese sweets as sacred offerings. The festival traces its origins to a mid-ninth-century Shinto ritual in which 16 treats were offered up to the gods on the 16th of the 6th month (June) to ward against danger and disease. Today, June 16 has come to be called Wagashi-no-hi (Japanese Confectionary Day), supposedly due to this traditional Shinto ritual.

(June 16, 2014)

On June 20, Japan played Greece in a group match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. Although the match ended in a 0-0 tie, Shibuya Crossing was packed with soccer fans despite it being a weekday morning. The Metropolitan Police Department had enforced painstaking and thorough traffic control measures beginning before the start of the match, and there were no major disruptions.

(June 20, 2014)

　On June 28, the section of highway from the Takao-san Interchange to the Sagamihara-Aikawa Interchange was opened for use. This section constitutes a part of the Ken-o-do (Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway) a roop road that runs in an approximately 40-60 km radius around Tokyo’s urban core and connects five prefectures. With the opening of this section, three major highways?the Kan-etsu Expressway, the Chuo Expressway, and the Tomei Expressway?were connected with one another, and all Tokyo sections of the Ken-o-do were opened for use. Additional construction will take place in the future with the expectation that congestion will be further improved and traffic further streamlined in the capital area.

(June 28, 2014)

　Take the train west from Shinjuku for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach JR Musashi-Itsukaichi. From the station, walk an additional 40 minutes to reach Mt. Minamisawa Ajisaiyama, a name that literally translates to “Mt. Hydrangea”. Landowners here have grown hydrangeas for many years, and at the peak of the flowers’ beauty in July, they covered both sides of a kilometer stretch of sloping forest and mountain paths.

(July 1, 2014)

　On July 1-2, Governor Masuzoe visited Mikura-jima and Miyake-jima, two islands located approximately 200 km south of the Tokyo city center. The Governor listened to explanations of the islands’ unique products and industries, then engaged in conversation with residents, all of whom live in the islands’ harsh natural environment. The photograph shows the Governor visiting a site where buildings including a school and a shrine were buried by lava flows in 1983 and 2000 Mount Oyama volcanic eruptions.

(July 2, 2014)

　Every year on July 14, the 700-year-old Mizudome-no-mai festival is held at Gonsho-ji Temple, located in a residential area of Omori district in Ota Ward. A man climbs into a cylindrical tube that is wrapped in rope, and then he blows on a conch shell as water is poured over him and he is rolled down a hill road. This festival originates from prayers to halt a long spell of rain in the 14th century.

(July 14, 2014)

　On July 26, the The 37th Sumida River Fireworks Festival, a summer tradition, was held in the traditional downtown area of Tokyo. Last year, sudden thunderstorms caused the event to be cancelled for the first time in its history, thirty minutes after it had begun. This year was blessed with sunny skies all day, and 965,000 people gathered to watch and cheer as 20,000 fireworks were fired into the air.

(July 26, 2014)

On August 1, the general opening ceremony of the All-Japan Inter-High School Athletic Competition (commonly abbreviated to “Inter-High”) was held in Tokyo for the first time in 39 years. All competitions took place in the southern Kanto region, Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, and Yamanashi through August 20. The athletes, who are expected to go on to be active in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, engaged in spirited competition in every sport.

(August 1, 2014)

　The Fukagawa Masturi was held from August 13 to 18 at Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine in Koto Ward. Alongside the Kanda Matsuri and the Sanno Matsuri, the Fukagawa Matsuri is one of the three major festivals of Edo (ancient Tokyo) with roughly 370 years of history. To fight the heat, the people carrying the mikoshi portable shrines in the festival are doused in water, leading to its popular nickname, mizukake matsuri (“the water-throwing festival”). Anyone can participate in the water-throwing?not only local residents, but tourists from elsewhere in Japan or overseas as well?and the roadsides were filled with spectators.

(August 17, 2014)

　On August 27, Governor Yoichi Masuzoe inspected Tokyo Metropolis two water supply facilities located on the western border with Saitama Prefecture. At Murayama Reservoir, he inspected the site's recently earthquake-proofed embankment and what is said to be Japan' s most beautiful intake tower. At Higashi-Murayama Purification Plant, he inspected the plant's highly advanced water purification facilities. Afterward, the Governor stated that “Tokyo's water supply-related technology is the best in the world, and it would be a major asset in inter-city diplomacy.”

(August 27, 2014)

　On August 30, a joint disaster drill was held between Tokyo Metropolis and Suginami Ward, a residential area. This drill adopted the scenario that an extremely strong earthquake had hit with its epicenter located in the northern part of Tokyo Bay, and all of the 23 Tokyo wards including Suginami had suffered grave damage. With the themes of “self-help, cooperation, and working together,” participants in the drill were local residents, police, firefighters, self-defense forces, and even firefighter troops from the Asian cities (Seoul and Taipei).

(August 30, 2014)

　On September 7, the Meguro Sanma (Pacific sauries) Festival was held at the shopping area in front of Meguro Station on the JR Yamanote Line. In this classic autumn event, visitors were treated free of charge to 7,000 seasonal Pacific sauries caught in the city of Miyako in Iwate Prefecture. Traditional-style entertainment was also provided for free, drawing approximately 30,000 visitors to the venue.

(September 7, 2014)

On September 12, Governor Yoichi Masuzoe visited Mitsumasa Matsuda, who had celebrated his 100th birthday in June, for a friendly discussion in celebration of his long life. Asked by the Governor for the secret to his longevity, Mr. Matsuda replied that he ate three meals a day at the proper times and took walks. There are 2,476 people in the Tokyo Metropolis who will turn 100 years old this fiscal year. Adding that to the number of people in Tokyo who have already reached 100 years of age, the overall total is expected to reach 6,718.

(September 12, 2014)

　For the week of September 12 to 19, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No.1 was lit up with blue lights in connection with the Blue Ribbon campaign calling for the release of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. The Blue Ribbon symbolizes the blue sky that is the only connection between the abductees and their families, as the same sky is over top both Japan and North Korea. It also symbolizes the blue Sea of Japan that separates the close-but-faraway country from the Japanese homeland. In addition to the Blue Ribbon campaign, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government also participates in the Pink Ribbon campaign to promote the early detection of breast cancer, in connection with which the buildings are lit up with pink lights.

(September 12, 2014)

　On September 16, Governor Yoichi Masuzoe visited Tsukiji Market and the construction site of New Toyosu Market (Koto Ward). Tsukiji is one of the largest markets in the world and a Japanese landmark, but increasing volumes of goods traded there has placed a strain on the cramped and dilapitated facilities, prompting a transfer to a new market in Toyosu scheduled for 2015. In this photo, Governor Masuzoe visits the fresh tuna wholesale market.

(September 16, 2014)

From October 10 to 12, Tokyo-made agricultural and marine products, alcoholic drinks, and special dishes of foods created with Tokyo-made materials were on sale in the heart of the business district, Marunouchi. Famous Tokyo chefs sold their special dishes out of kitchen cars along Marunouchi Naka-dori Street, which was transformed into a 300-meter-long pedestrian mall. On Gyoko-dori Street stretching from Tokyo Station to the Imperial Palace, edokiriko faceted glass, wood carvings, and other traditional crafts were displayed and sold in a showcase of “Tokyo cuisine and traditional culture” for the crowds of Taste of Tokyo visitors.

(October 10, 2014)

On October 11 and 12, the 7th annual Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony was held at the Hamarikyu Gardens, which were once “daimyo gardens” of the feudal lords (daimyo). This large-scale tea ceremony is part of the Tokyo Traditional Arts Program that aspires to broadcast the attractiveness of traditional Japanese culture to people both inside and outside of Japan. The event provides Tokyo residents and overseas tourists with an opportunity to casually experience and enjoy tea ceremony traditions and rituals. Various special tea settings were established for the event, including “Tea Ceremony for Beginners” and the “Nodate in English” (a nodate is an open-air tea ceremony). Over 20,000 visitors came to the event in these two days.

(October 12, 2014)

On October 20, the event “ Let’s Discuss with the Governor! in Koganei” took place in Koganei City, which is geographically located near the center of the Tokyo Metropolis. This was the first such symposium held for the purpose of direct discussion between Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe and the citizens of Tokyo on the main issues and tasks that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is facing. The theme of the symposium was “Hospitality and service for foreign visitors in preparation toward the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games”. Discussion with Tokyo residents revolved around topics including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government policies focused on creating an environment to realize comfortable and safety stay for overseas visitors. Training of “Hospitality Volunteer”, who will be able to communicate and provide directions in English, was introduced as one example of the measures.

(October 20, 2014)

On October 31, crowds of costumed young people gathered in Shibuya for the annual Halloween excitement. The Shibuya Crossing became increasingly congested beginning at 9 PM, but traffic control undertaken by 200 special mobile police from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department prevented any major disorder. This year’s Halloween took place on the Friday before a three-day weekend, and many young people enjoyed the Halloween night through to dawn the next day.

(October 31, 2014)

　On November 6, Governor Masuzoe visited facilities and businesses in Tokyo’s Adachi ward. He first toured the construction being performed to elevate tracks in the vicinity of Takenotsuka Station on the Tobu Isesaki Line. Later, the Governor proceeded to the Toei (Tokyo-operated) Nippori-Toneri Liner’s rail yard, located in Toneri Park, where he received an explanation on improvements of the Liner’s transportation capacity and safety, followed by overall utilization of Toneri Park, which also serves as a disaster-prevention park. Of all parks established by the Tokyo Metropolis, 53 are designated “evacuation sites” and 26 are designated “activity sites” for emergency repair work.

November 6, 2014

　On November 20, the 2014 Drill was held in and around Tokyo Metro Hibiya Station and Hibiya Park. Approximately 300 participants responded to a hypothetical emergency in the downtown Tokyo subway system, wherein a ruptured plastic bottle full of suspicious liquid caused sickness in several victims. Participating in the drill were the Metropolitan Police Department, Tokyo Fire Department, Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces, Tokyo Metro, Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, Tokyo Disaster Medical Assistance Team (Tokyo DMAT), Chiyoda Ward, and the Japan Self Defense Force Tokyo Provincial Cooperation Office, while the staff of local businesses also participated as evacuees.

November 20, 2014

　November 22 saw the grand re-opening of the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum. After approximately three years under construction, the aging museum facilities have been renovated as well as restored to look similar to how the museum appeared around the time of its founding. In addition, the reconstructed museum building includes new White Cube exhibition spaces, a museum shop, and a café.

November 21, 2014

　 On November 21, Governor Masuzoe test drove a fuel cell vehicle in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office building. He drove the car, the world’s first commercially available fuel cell vehicle, for 10 minutes through the Nishi-Shinjuku area. Afterward, the Governor discussed his thoughts on promoting softer regulation on fuel cell vehicles to support the introduction of hydrogen-filling stations and finally achieving a “hydrogen society”.

November 21, 2014

　 At Rikugien Garden, a Tokyo Metropolitan park near JR Yamanote Line Komagome Station, the Japanese maple and other trees turned their beautiful autumn colors. For two weeks around the best leaf-viewing period, the Garden extends its closing time by 4 hours, allowing visitors to enjoy the colors of the leaves and the light-up display in this traditional Japanese daimyo style garden until 9 pm. This event attracts great crowds of people every year.

December 3, 2014

　 On December 10, Governor Masuzoe visited the Tokyo Gas Senju Techno Station (Arakawa Ward), where the technology necessary for Tokyo’s smart energy network was undergoing a verification process. At the station, the Governor received an explanation of the facility’s hydrogen production system, fuel cells, and other related topics. After completing his tour, Governor Masuzoe stated his intention to proceed with work toward achieving a “hydrogen society” by the time of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.


December 10, 2014

　 On December 16, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy paid a courtesy call to Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe. They discussed the history of exchange between Tokyo and various American cities, as well as their desire to cooperate on youth English education, disaster prevention measures, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and many other endeavors.


December 16, 2014

　 In December, dazzling light displays (called “illumination”) decorated Shinjuku, Ginza, Marunochi, and other Tokyo locations. With events like the “Illumination Museum 2014, Nishi Shinjuku Town Project” and “Shinjuku Terrace City Illumination ‘14-’15,” Shinjuku was completely enveloped in the Christmas spirit.


December 17, 2014