Tokyo Photo News July 2017

　On July 6, the Iriya Morning Glory Festival (Iriya Asagao Matsuri) was bustling from early in the morning. This festival is held for three days from July 6 through 8 every year. Centering on Iriya-Kishimojin (Shingen-ji Temple), around 60 morning glory vendors and 80 fair stalls open along the Kototoi-dori Street. Each year, there is a large turnout of as many as 400,000 visitors. Admiring the colorful morning glories, visitors can enjoy a Japanese summer tradition dating back to the Edo period.

(July 6, 2017)

　On July 25, the 51st Katsushika Fireworks Festival was held around the Edogawa River. About 13,000 fireworks lit up the summer night sky. Included in the fireworks display were those launched in rhythm with the publicity talk by the Katsushika tourism ambassador, huge 120-meter wide fireworks configured in the thick eyebrows of a character from a popular Japanese manga set in Katsushika, and the elaborate fireworks that came in first in the Hanabi World Cup in Huis Ten Bosch in 2016.

(July 25, 2017)

　On July 27 and 28, Governor Koike attended the National Governors’ Conference held in Iwate Prefecture. This time, the conference theme was “From Isolated Society to Inclusive Society?Changing Japan from a Local Scale.” At the opening of the meeting, Governor Yamada of Kyoto Prefecture, who serves as the President of the National Governors’ Association, said, “It is time to return to a world of coexistence rather than isolation. Coexistence is the most important principle for local governments,” and called out, “Let’s change Japan from a local scale.”

(July 27, 2017)

　On July 29, Governor Koike visited the island of Shikine, which is under the jurisdiction of Niijima Village, Tokyo. The governor first visited Kanbiki View Point on the island and enjoyed the vista selected as one of the new one hundred famous views of Tokyo. Next, she went to the Shikinejima Development Center, where she was briefed on the “island treasures” such as its natural hot springs and had the opportunity to speak with the islanders.

(July 29, 2017)