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TOKYO ALBUM > Tokyo Photo News > Tokyo Photo News backnumbers > Tokyo Photo News 2011 > Tokyo Photo News January 2011
Winter Peonies of the New Year
Peonies of the common spring variety which come to bloom in the low temperatures of winter are known as “winter peonies.” Again this year at the Ueno Toshogu Shrine, beautiful winter peonies, braving the cold of winter, blossomed elegantly under protective straw teepees designed to protect them from snow. Visitors to the shrine could enjoy 600 flowering tree peonies of some 40 different varieties between New Year's Day and the middle of February.
Photo: Winter peonies at Ueno Toshogu Shrine (taken January 31, 2011)
Commemorative event celebrates 50 years of Lufthansa service to Japan
Lufthansa held a commemorative event at Narita International Airport on January 24 in celebration of its 50 years of service to Japan. Festivities included a speech by the organizers, guest speeches, including greetings from Governor Ishihara, a signing ceremony, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Following these, an unveiling ceremony, which included breaking open a sake cask, was held for an Airbus A380 which had been christened “Tokyo” and had the name “TOKIO” and the kanji characters for the metropolis painted across its fuselage.
Photo: Narita International Airport (taken January 24, 2011)
The importance of self-help, cooperation, and working together
On January 18, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government held the Disaster Preparedness Drill for Foreign Residents at the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Sumida Ward. The purpose of the drill was to spread information regarding disaster preparedness among foreign nationals residing in Tokyo, and to also instill in them the necessity of adopting an attitude of cooperation and self-help should an actual disaster strike. Approximately 300 foreign nationals from over 40 countries, including Japanese language school students and staff members from various embassies in Tokyo, gathered for the event. Receiving guidance from the Tokyo Fire Department, participants actively engaged in a variety of hands-on drills and exercises.
Photo: Participants practice rescue techniques
Welcome to Izu Oshima, home to blossoming camellias!
Izu Oshima Island is home to approximately three million naturally blooming common camellia. In order to promote the island's 56th Izu Oshima Camellia Festival, which began January 30, a promotional delegation which included Miss Oshima paid a visit to Governor Ishihara, giving him a bouquet of local flowers and inviting people to visit the island. The Camellia Festival is held throughout the island until March 21.
Photo: Governor Ishihara receiving a bouquet of camellias from Miss Oshima, Eri Tsuiki.
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