Tokyo Photo News May 2010

Tokyo Metropolitan Mizumoto Park first opened in Katsushika Ward in 1965. Boasting a large area of 90 hectares and built along Koaidame?a flood control basin constructed for the old Furutone River, the park is the only one of its kind in Tokyo that offers a natural riverside view. Visitors can enjoy all types of outdoor activities including barbequing, fishing, or simply taking a stroll in the park grounds. It is also frequented by many different kinds of wild birds, such as kingfishers, making it a great spot for wild bird watching. A 1.2-kilometer long row of poplar trees and a forest of approximately 2,000 dawn redwoods (Metasequoia) paint the park a brilliant shade of green as it welcomes the changing season.
(Photo taken on May 21, 2010.)

On May 28, the official funeral for the late Mr. Shunichi Suzuki, a former Tokyo governor who served for 16 years over four terms and passed away on May 14, was held at Aoyama Sogisho in Minato Ward. The final honor started with an address by Governor Ishihara who headed the Funeral Committee; this was followed by a condolence speech presented by Mr. Seisuke Okuno, former member of the Diet, on behalf of all friends of the former Governor. The memorial service was attended by approximately 1,000 people who came to pay tribute to Mr. Suzuki. The Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta), said to be one of his favorite songs when he was alive, was played during the flower tribute ceremony.
(Photo taken on May 28, 2010.)

The 57th Conference of the Leaders of the Nine Metropolitan Prefectural/Municipal Authorities was held in the 5th floor Meeting Hall of the TMG Building No. 1 on May 13. This marked the first meeting in which the city of Sagamihara participated. Sagamihara became a government ordinance-designated city with a population of over 500,000 in April 2010, making the occasion the first meeting consisting of nine prefectural and municipal governments. In the meeting, common issues shared by these authorities in the Greater Tokyo region, such as full national government funding for the Child Allowance and the development of the region's ring roads, were deliberated.
(Photo taken on May 13, 2010.)

The "2010 Shima-jiman Promotion of I Love Tokyo Islands," which aims to promote tourism for the Izu and Ogasawara islands of Tokyo, was held at Takeshiba Pier's Passenger Boat Terminal on May 22 and May 23. On May 12, prior to the event, a group of nine women, each representing an island, paid an official call on Governor Ishihara at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. After hearing the delegates' presentation on the attractiveness of the islands, Governor Ishihara told the visitors, "I often hear praise about Tokyo's islands from foreigners as well." The governor emphasized that each of the islands' unique charms should be further promoted both within Japan and overseas as well.
(At center, Governor Ishihara surrounded by the island delegates.)