Tokyo Photo News August 2009

The 45th election of the House of Representatives members took place on August 30. This was the first time in 107 years for the lower house election to be held in August; the last time being in 1902. Tokyo had approximately 10.6 million registered voters at the time of the election and voter turnout for single-seat constituencies was 66.37%, surpassing that of the previous general election of September 2005.

Photo: Young voters were noticeable at a polling station in Shinagawa Ward

The Tokyo Memorial Service for the War Dead was held at the Bunkyo Civic Hall on August 15, the anniversary of the end of the war. Some 1,000 participants, including surviving families from the Tokyo area, assembled for the memorial service, and as the clock struck noon offered a silent prayer to the Tokyo residents who lost their lives.

Photo: Governor Ishihara delivering his address (August 15)

The extraordinary session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, the first to be held since the July elections of the 127 assembly members, was held on August 31. At this session, elections for the Assembly’s President and Vice President were held: Ryo Tanaka assumed the post of Assembly President, and Kantaro Suzuki, Vice President. Additionally, members of the standing committees and steering committee were selected, and approval was given for the appointment of audit and inspection commissioners.

Photo: Assembly President Tanaka making his acceptance speech while Governor Shintaro Ishihara (right front row) listens..

On September 2, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) released the Evaluation Commission’s report on the bids of the four cities vying for the right to host the 2016 Olympic Summer Games. At a press conference held in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building on September 3, Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and Vice President of the Tokyo 2016 Bid Committee commented, “the report reflects what we have been emphasizing and has given our Bid a big boost.

Photo: Tokyo 2016 Bid Committee Vice President Tsunekazu Takeda (second from left) and other members holding copies of the Evaluation Commission report.