Tokyo Photo News November 2007

The “2007 Miyakejima Island Challenge Motorcycle Festival” was recently held on Miyakejima Island, where vestiges of the volcanic eruption that occurred seven years ago are still omnipresent. The brainchild of Governor Ishihara, the event was held over three days starting from November 16, with the aim of attracting tourists and revitalizing the battered island. All manner of stock car and motorcycle races were held during the festival: tourists and locals alike thoroughly enjoyed the first major event to take place on the island since the disaster. Photo: Governor Ishihara (right) waves the starting flag

On November 13, a commemoration ceremony was held at the Ogochi Dam in Okutama-machi to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the completion of construction. The Ogochi Dam was finished in 1957 after 19 years of construction, and ever since has played a crucial role as a drinking water reservoir for the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. Vice Governor Hideo Sugawara and many other guests attended the ceremony, which included the unveiling of a stone monument commemorating the 50th anniversary. A time capsule containing messages for the future from 80 local elementary school students was encased within the monument. Photo: The commemorative stone monument is unveiled

On November 2 and 3, the 36th Tokyo Metropolitan Agricultural Festival took place in the courtyard outside the Treasure House at Meiji Shrine. The courtyard was crowded with the many people attending the show of agricultural products grown in Tokyo, and many attendees purchased items on the spot. Standing in front of a Tokyo Olympic bid logo made of flowers Governor Ishihara spoke to agricultural workers, asked questions of those around him as he toured the show grounds, and thanked those involved in the festival for the effort put forth.

Attendees express their solidarity at a party which took place on November 19 at the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka after the presentation of the fundamental plan for hosting the TOKYO 2016 Olympic Games. Approximately 1,600 people came together from the worlds of sports, politics, business, and government in order to build momentum for the bid. The hosting concepts are “The world’s most compact Olympic Games” and “The Olympic Games - nurturing people, protecting the green, and vitalizing the city.” Special “Hometown Ambassadors” who will promote the bid nationwide were introduced. They pledged to spare no efforts in building enthusiasm for the event not only in Tokyo but all across Japan.