Tokyo Photo News January 2017

On January 9, the hands-on sports event Challenge Sports! TOKYO was held at Tokyo International Forum. The event, which aimed to bring persons with or without impairments together to enjoy sports, bustled with attendees. It featured areas where visitors could try their hand at boccia, goalball, wheelchair basketball, football 5-a-side, and other sports. Mascots from various parts of Japan, including popular pear-like mascot Funassyi, also took part.

(January 9, 2017)

On January 13, Bisha Matsuri took place at Nakai Goryo Shrine. In this Shinto ritual held every January, participants release arrows, making wishes for a good harvest. Bisha Matsuri has been designated by Shinjuku-ku as an intangible folk cultural property.

(January 13, 2017)

On January 24, Kameido Tenjinsha Shrine held the Shinto ritual of Usokae Shinji, which features the bullfinch, or uso in Japanese, a bird believed to bring luck. Every year, people visit the shrine to replace their old wood carved bullfinches with new ones, hoping that past bad luck will turn into a lie, which is also uso in Japanese. The Usokae Shinji ritual is also held at other shrines in Tokyo, such as Yushima Tenjin.
(January 24, 2017)

On January 24, Governor Koike attended the opening ceremony of the relocated Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Library. Having moved from Tachikawa City to Kokubunji City, the library mainly features two services: the Tokyo Magazine Bank, which has approximately 17,000 magazine titles, one of the largest selections for a public library in Japan; and the Service Providing Materials for Children and Adolescents, which is aimed at encouraging young people to read more books. After the ceremony, the governor looked around the library, inspecting such facilities as the stacks, family-friendly accommodations (e.g. spacious restroom stalls that can accommodate strollers), Picture Books Area, digital signage displaying tourist information, and caf?.

(January 24, 2017)