Tokyo Photo News January 2007

On January 11, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and 14 organizations including the Tokyo Bar Association and Tokyo Land and Building Surveyors Association concluded the Agreement on Support for Community Reconstruction after an Earthquake, under which legal consultations and advice will be provided to victims of earthquakes following such a disaster. This agreement aims to ensure preparation for the aftermath of an earthquake disaster through collaboration between the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and experts from normal times. This is based on the lessons learned from the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995 in which reconstruction was delayed due to complicated land and building rights adjustments. On this day, representatives from 14 organizations gathered to sign the first such agreement in Japan with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Photo: Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara (on right) and Tokyo Bar Association Chairman Keisuke Yoshioka (on left) exchange agreements.

On January 19 Governor Shintaro Ishihara observed Internet auctions on large monitors set up in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Taxation. The governor appeared satisfied as the prices of assets seized from delinquent metropolitan taxpayers were bid upward over time. This was the 15th such auction event, and 47 of the 65 items put up for action were sold, including a dish made by Rosanjin Kitaoji (one of Japan's most acclaimed potters, 1883-1959) and a “yakatabune” (literally “ roof-shaped boats”, these are flat bottomed boats where passengers can enjoy food and drink served Japanese-style on low tables set upon tatami mats). (The items were bought for approximately 19.82 million yen, about 1.7 times the estimated price.)

Testing with the general public of the Tokyo Ubiquitous Technology Project in Ginza began on January 21. The project will allow people to acquire location and time-specific shopping and tourist information via portable devices and camera-equipped cellular phones as they stroll around Ginza. Governor Shintaro Ishihara and others attended an opening ceremony held on January 20 prior to the start of testing. “Ubiquitous” in this case means “information and communications technology can be used anywhere at any time.” The testing, geared towards achieving practical use of the technology, will be conducted through to March 10.

The annual Ome Daruma Doll Fair was held on January 12. For the event, stalls are set up along an approximately 600 meter stretch of Kyu-Ome Kaido Avenue near Ome Station. For one day over a short six-hour period starting at 1時30分 p.m. venders work themselves into a feverish trance of sales pitches as they vigorously sell the Daruma dolls which are talismans of good luck (The doll's face has a mustache and beard but its eyes only contain the color white. Using black one paints in an eye while making a wish. Should the wish come true later, the second eye is painted in). Approximately 13,000 people turned out for this year's fair. There was some lighthearted bargaining as many customers visit the same stalls each year to ask for discounts.