Tokyo Photo News June 2011

As one facet of cooperation between Yubari city and Tokyo, the opening ceremony of the Yubari event at the Japanese Prefectural Tourism Promotion Center on the second floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government No. 1 Building was held on June 15. Following the opening address by Yubari Mayor Suzuki and a taiko drum performance by the Yubari Taiko Preservation Society, local Yubari specialties and mascot goods were put on sale.

Photo: Yubari Mayor Suzuki, Vice Governor Inose, and young TMG officials who attended a training session in Yubari help sell Yubari melons, the local specialty

Tokyo expanded its survey of airborne radiation levels to take measurements throughout the metropolitan area (approximately 100 locations). The first measurement was taken at Hinodecho Park in Toshima Ward, where many members of the press looked on as a metropolitan government official measured radiation levels at both five centimeters and one meter off the ground.

Photo: The media watches as a metropolitan government official takes measurements (June 15)

East Japan Railway Company President Seino visited Governor Ishihara at the metropolitan government office on June 20 to apologize for their lack of consideration toward passengers when they shuttered stations in the immediate wake of the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and other inconveniences that followed. Governor Ishihara maintained a stern expression throughout the meeting, responding that JR East should have apologized to Tokyo residents and passengers earlier.

On June 29, supporters from the Sumidagawa River Basin Water Transport Tourism Association revived the Ryogoku Kawabiraki, or ceremony for the opening of the boating season, at Ryogokubashi Nishizume located at the foot of Ryogokubashi bridge on the right bank of the Sumidagawa River. The ceremony is believed to have its beginnings in a water god festival held by the eighth Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, to pray for the spirits of those who died from famine and plague. The fireworks following the festival were a popular summer attraction in the Edo period and are believed to be the origins of the present day Sumida River Fireworks Festival.

Photo: Prayer for safety by a Kanda Myoujin Shrine priest (June 29)