Tokyo Photo News November 2023

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been lighting-up its buildings and others to raise awareness of the projects and campaigns of each of its bureaus. On November 1, the first anniversary of the start of operation of the Tokyo Metropolitan Partnership Oath System, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1 and the Rainbow Bridge were illuminated in six colors. Under the slogan "Be yourself, in this city," this system is designed to promote the understanding of sexual diversity among Tokyo residents and to create a comfortable environment for people of sexual minorities, including the reduction of problems concerning sexual-minority partnerships.

The six colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple) used in the illumination for the Tokyo Metropolitan Partnership Oath System are considered international symbols for the understanding of sexual minorities.

On November 14, World Diabetes Day, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1 was lit up in the shade of blue associated with the "Blue Circle," a symbol of diabetes prevention, to call on the citizens of Tokyo to better their understanding of diabetes.

November 12 to 25 was the "Movement to Eliminate Violence Against Women" period. On November 12, the beginning of this period, 10 bridges over the Sumida River (Shirahige Bridge, Azuma Bridge, Komagata Bridge, Umaya Bridge, Kuramae Bridge, Kiyosu Bridge, Eitai Bridge, Tsukuda Bridge, Kachidoki Bridge, and Tsukiji Bridge) were illuminated in purple to represent a "Purple Ribbon," a symbol calling for the eradication of violence against women. The photo shows Azuma Bridge while illuminated.

As part of this "Movement to Eliminate Violence Against Women" initiative, the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre was also illuminated in purple from November 15 to 25.

In 2025, Tokyo will host the Deaflympics (an international sports competition for the deaf). To commemorate the two years before the event, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1 was illuminated in the colors of the Games emblem (red, green, yellow, and blue) from November 15 to 26.
The colors represent each of the four regions in the coalition: red represents Asia-Pacific, green represents Africa, yellow represents the Americas, and blue represents Europe.

"Miru Cafe" (“miru” means “to see” in Japanese) opened in Harajuku for a limited period from November 15 to 26 as an initiative to commemorate the 2025 Deaflympics (an international sports competition for the deaf) two years before its opening. The café is based on the concept of creating an environment where everyone can communicate comfortably, regardless of whether they can hear or not, by using digital technology to reproduce voice conversations and other languages in writing.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is working to expand demand for hydrogen energy in Tokyo and realize its early implementation in society in order to secure a stable energy supply and decarbonization.
On November 14, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government hosted a new international conference, HENCA Tokyo 2023, to further promote the construction of an international hydrogen supply chain and technological development.
* HENCA is an abbreviation for Hydrogen Energy Conference for Action.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government holds the Tokyo Venture Technology Award, which recognizes innovative and promising products, technologies, and services developed by small and medium-sized enterprises.
In FY 2023, there were 129 applications, from which 15 outstanding products etc., were selected to receive awards.
The Grand Prize was awarded to Econo Freeze Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tama City, Tokyo) for its "NEF Method - Innovative Maintenance Method for Underground Fire Hydrants That Do Not Require Excavation."

The award-winning companies were presented with a certificate of commendation and an incentive for their development and sale with supplementary prizes by Governor Koike.

After the award ceremony, Governor Koike visited the booths of the Tokyo Venture Technology Award.
Each company explained their award-winning products to Governor Koike.