Tokyo Photo News August 2014

On August 1, the general opening ceremony of the All-Japan Inter-High School Athletic Competition (commonly abbreviated to “Inter-High”) was held in Tokyo for the first time in 39 years. All competitions took place in the southern Kanto region, Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, and Yamanashi through August 20. The athletes, who are expected to go on to be active in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, engaged in spirited competition in every sport.

(August 1, 2014)

The Fukagawa Masturi was held from August 13 to 18 at Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine in Koto Ward. Alongside the Kanda Matsuri and the Sanno Matsuri, the Fukagawa Matsuri is one of the three major festivals of Edo (ancient Tokyo) with roughly 370 years of history. To fight the heat, the people carrying the mikoshi portable shrines in the festival are doused in water, leading to its popular nickname, mizukake matsuri (“the water-throwing festival”). Anyone can participate in the water-throwing?not only local residents, but tourists from elsewhere in Japan or overseas as well?and the roadsides were filled with spectators.

(August 17, 2014)

On August 27, Governor Yoichi Masuzoe inspected Tokyo Metropolis two water supply facilities located on the western border with Saitama Prefecture. At Murayama Reservoir, he inspected the site's recently earthquake-proofed embankment and what is said to be Japan' s most beautiful intake tower. At Higashi-Murayama Purification Plant, he inspected the plant's highly advanced water purification facilities. Afterward, the Governor stated that “Tokyo's water supply-related technology is the best in the world, and it would be a major asset in inter-city diplomacy.”

(August 27, 2014)

On August 30, a joint disaster drill was held between Tokyo Metropolis and Suginami Ward, a residential area. This drill adopted the scenario that an extremely strong earthquake had hit with its epicenter located in the northern part of Tokyo Bay, and all of the 23 Tokyo wards including Suginami had suffered grave damage. With the themes of “self-help, cooperation, and working together,” participants in the drill were local residents, police, firefighters, self-defense forces, and even firefighter troops from the Asian cities (Seoul and Taipei).

(August 30, 2014)