Tokyo Photo News July 2024

With 500 days remaining until the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government distributed a learning booklet titled “Discover the Deaflympics!” to approx. 340,000 4th to 6th grade elementary school students in Tokyo. The booklet is designed to help children understand the Deaflympics and learn the basics of sign language. As part of the initiative, a special class using this booklet was held at Daiba Elementary School in Shinagawa Ward.

Elementary school children learned sign language using the booklet in the first session of the class.

During breaks in classes, the elementary school children enjoyed talking with instructor Sato Masaki, a gold medalist at the Deaf Judo World Championships.

Elementary school children tried to think of ways to communicate with the instructor in class without using sign language interpretation.

Another instructor, Kawamata Ikumi, the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics Support Ambassador, told the elementary school students, “There are all kinds of people in the world. Please continue to work hard to meet all these different people, talk to all kinds of people, share feelings and ideas with each other, and make society a kinder place.”

In the second session of the class in the gymnasium, all the participants wore “Onntena,” a device on their wrists that allows people who are deaf to sense sound through vibrations and light, and dance to the dance piece “Shuwashuwa☆Deaflympics.

Group photos were taken with the instructors and children posing for the Deaflympics.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government held a Memorial Day event to pass on the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games to the next generation of children. Athletes who participated in the Olympics talked about thoughts and feelings they had at the Games in an easy-to-understand manner during a talk show. Participants also had an opportunity to experience breaking, a sport that is set to have its Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games, giving them a real feel for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Junior elite category breaking athletes showed their skills.

A video message to support athletes who will participate in the Paris Games was filmed.

Commemorative photos were taken with the participants, athletes, and mascots “Miraitowa and Someity”

Approximately 20,000 fireworks (figure announced by the organizers) were launched at the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.

Fireworks at the Sumida River lit up the night sky together with the illuminated Tokyo Sky Tree (right)

Fireworks and houseboats beautifully colored the summer night sky.

Fireworks launched at the Showa Kinen Park fireworks festival for Tachikawa Festival

The Tokyo Metropolitan Technical High Schools Dream Festa 2024 took place on July 28 at the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Triangle Square. This event showcases the appeal of Tokyo Metropolitan Technical High Schools, which offer diverse and high-quality education focused on developing “next generation manufacturing talent.” Since its debut last year, the event has garnered positive feedback, and this year’s edition was once again filled with the vibrant energy of students.

Technical high school students set up experience and demonstration corners.

Technical high school students set up work exhibition corners.

A talk show about school life was held with Kubota Miyu, a voice actress who graduated from a technical high school. Kubota and the students exchanged thoughts on the daily life of high school students in a fun talk.