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TOKYO ALBUM > Tokyo Photo News > Tokyo Photo News backnumbers > Tokyo Photo News 2017 > Tokyo Photo News February 2017
Setsubun Festival at Hanazono Shrine
A festival to celebrate Setsubun was held at Hanazono Shrine on February 3. “Setsubun” means “the change of seasons,” and is the day before the first day of spring and the new year in the traditional Japanese calendar. Setsubun festivals are held at temples and shrines around that time to pray that the coming year is full of good luck and free of calamities. The tradition of throwing beans to chase out the devil and welcome in luck has been carried out since the Muromachi period (1336 ? 1573).
(February 3, 2017)
Field Mustard Blossoms in the Hamarikyu Gardens
On February 17, the blossoms of the field mustard reached their peak at the Hamarikyu Gardens. The carpet of around 300,000 yellow flowers in full bloom was an early sign of spring. The Hamarikyu Gardens is a leading example of a daimyo garden from the Edo period, with a tidal pond and two duck blinds for hunting. In December 1948, the gardens were designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty and as a Historic Site by the national government. In November of 1952, the site and surrounding water were designated as Special Places of Scenic Beauty and Special Historic Sites.
(February 17, 2017)
Governor Attends Tunneling Shield Launch Ceremony
On February 19, Governor Koike attended a ceremony to launch the tunneling shield for excavating a section of the Tokyo Gaikan Expressway, connecting the Kan-Etsu and Tomei expressway. Viewing the tunneling shield, the governor said that she was able to gain a real sense of the conditions and then stated, “The shield method is at the cutting edge of Japanese technology. I believe it supports increased productivity and stronger international competitiveness.”
(February 19, 2017)
Tokyo Marathon 2017
On February 26, Tokyo Marathon 2017 was held. This is the 11th time the event has taken place since it started in 2007. This year’s marathon course was changed from previous years from the perspective of two points: stronger promotion of Tokyo’s appeal to those within and outside of Japan, and creation of a faster course that would allow runners to set records. The runners started at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, racing through Iidabashi, Kanda, Nihombashi, Asakusa Kaminari-mon, Ryogoku, Monzen-nakacho, Ginza, Takanawa, and Hibiya before reaching the goal at Gyoko-dori Avenue, against the backdrop of the Tokyo Station Marunouchi Station Building.
(February 26, 2017)
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