Tokyo Photo News July 2009

Standing 18 meters tall, a full-scale replica of Gundam (a giant robot from the popular anime series Mobile Suit Gundam) appeared, towering over Odaiba’s Shiokaze-koen Park. The replica was created for the “Green Tokyo Gundam Project,” which aims to support the restoration of Tokyo’s abundant greenery. An unveiling ceremony was held on August 1 with the Tokyo 2016 Olympic and Paralympic bid logo affixed to the robot’s left shoulder in support of the bid.

On July 31, the two teams of Teikyo Senior High School and The Third Senior High School of Nihon University, representing East Tokyo and West Tokyo, respectively, in the summer national high school baseball championship to be held at Koshien stadium, visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and vowed to put up a good fight. They were received by Tokyo Vice-Governor Hiroshi Sato who offered encouragement saying, "I hope your teams play against each other in the finals to bring the championship pennant to Tokyo."

Photo: Both teams enthusiastically vow to give their best

The opening ceremony of the WCBF Friendship Games ’09 Tokyo, welcoming children’s baseball teams from Tokyo and five countries and regions including Canada and Germany, was held at Ota Stadium on July 29. Receiving batting instructions from Sadaharu Oh, Chairman of the World Children’s Baseball Foundation, the host organization, Governor Ishihara faced off the battery of Choji Murata (former professional pitcher and executive director of WCBF) and Atsuya Furuta (former professional catcher and a Tokyo 2016 Bid Ambassador).

Photo: Governor Ishihara swinging the bat at the opening ceremony

On July 31, the TMG launched a comprehensive telephone consultation service, Wakanavi (youth navigation), mainly targeting young people ages 18 years and over with worries such as problems in personal relationships, feelings of anxiety, or loneliness. On the day before the launch, Wakanavi campaign personality Ai Kago and others appeared at the opening event held at Shinjuku Station Square under a scorching summer sun.