Archive for 'Ginza' Category

Kyobashi Edogrand grand open

A new skyscraper of  commercial and office complex opened in Kyobashi, a central area so close to Tokyo station and Ginza on Nov.25th. This is “Kyobashi Edogrand” that is 170m high and has 32 floors groend and 3 floors underground, provided with 34 renowned shops of foods and stuff. (http://www.edogrand.tokyo/en)

 

Kyobashi Edogrand consists of  newly built part of the higher rises and old Meijiya Kyobashi Building which has old history. This facility’s building project started 15 years ago as a redevelopping plan of the area led by owners of shops and lands of the area to reinvigorate the old office and shopping streets. The building has the state-of-the-art technology of quakeproof systems to keep things very safe and secure. the new building is expected to draw a lot of attention from people both in Japan and overseas.

 

no need for booking in advance of the Imeprial Palace tour course visit

A  tour course in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo has changed its policy and now you don’t have to book prior to the date in advance anymore. The Imperial  Household Agency declared and actually started this new policy since this June 25th. (http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/index.html)

Now you can make a on-the-day booking for the tour and the palace started hosting such a tour even on Saturdays (the tour used to be available on only weekdays). In addition, the number and capacity of the tour has increased; a current-day registration is available twice a day for the both of the two tours.  One is for the tour in the morning (starts at 10:00am) and the other is for one in the afternoon (starts at 1:30pm). The capacity for current-day registration is 300 people, while that for advance registration is 200 people.  One tour takes about 75 minutes.   It is supposed  this new policy is arranged in order to increase foreign visitors to the palace as a part of promotion of  inbound tourism . Actually,  about 60% of the visitors to the palace are foreigners. So, the government is pareparing for starting  recoreded  guiding services coming in various languages as well.

 

a “new” Tsukiji fish market opening in October

As I wrote in my previous post, some main functions of the Tsukiji Market are going to be relocated to Toyosu in Tokyo, however, a new fish market at the current Tsukiji market area is going to be open on this October 15th. (http://www.tsukiji.or.jp/english/index.html)

The new fish market at Tsukiji will include about 60 intermediate wholesale shops that will keep their business there along with the current outer market with about 400 shops even after the coming relocation as above mentined. Now the Tsukiji market has carried out a new project of promoting its own traditional concepts and business skills called “Tsuki-Waza/ Tsukiji’s crafts and techniques” being created and practiced by the shops there. They host seminars to promote those traditions and techniques as cultural assets of the market  as a part of  comemmorating the upcoming 100th anniversary of the market area.

Tsukiji market opening time being changed

Tsukiji market,one of the biggest food markets in the world, is nowadays worldwide famous as the central market of Tokyo dealing fish, vegetables, commodities, and having cafe, restaurants, and stuff.  The management of the market  declared the market’s opening time for lay visitors to the fish, fruit and vegetable market sections to change. Currently, the opening time is 9:00am and is going to be 10:00am on and from the coming July 1st.

However, the opening time of other facility sections and corners, such as restraurants, sourvenir shops, and others will remain  the same as the current one of 9:00am.   Some main functions od the market are going to rerelocated to Toyosu this November, so, visiting some sections at the market at Tsukiji is highly advised  before the relocation.

Super Kabuki “One Piece”

“One Piece”, one of the most famour and popular Japanese manga is now dramatized as “Super Kabuki” play. (http://www.kabuki-bito.jp/theaters/shinbashi/2015/10/ii_1.html)

The play is performed at Shinbashi Enbujou, one of the major kabuki theaters in Tokyo Oct. 7- Nov.25. “Kabuki” is a traditional stage performance of Japan with more than 400 year history and most of its subjects have been tradtional stories or period dramas. However, these days, modern stories or even manga, anime works have become the plots. Thus happy fusion of old traditional arts and modern or contemporary culture are enhancing the both and attractions seem to be even progressing.  For example, parents and children or grandparentens and  their grand children  go see the work together, as  the older generations are fans of kabuki,while  the younger generations are fans of One Piece or other manga works. Thus cultural fusion also work   to  connect different generations and broadens the cultural zones.

Tokyo Marathon 2015 held, with about 36,000 participants

“Tokyo Marathon 2015” was held on Feb.22 in Tokyo. (http://www.tokyo42195.org/2015en/)  That was the 9th of the annual events with about 36,000 participating runners.

The course covered some central parts of Tokyo starting at the front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building.  Iidabashi~Hibiya Park~Shinagawa(turinig point)~Ginza~Azumabashi(turning point)~Toyosu(the Tokyo fish market is moving in here)~Tokyo Bigsight.

The runner of the Marathon Men finished first was Endeshaw Negesse from Ethiopia with the time record of 02:05:59 and that of Marathon Women was Birhane Dibaba from Ethopia at 02:23:15.  The first runner of Marathon Wheelchair men was Kota Hokinoue from Japan at 01:30:21 and that of Marathon Wheelchair Women was  Wakako Tsuchida from Japan at 01:46:28. There were some other categories of marathons in the event, all of which were popular. More than 34,000 runners successfully finished the total courses.

KIRARITO GINZA opened on 30th

A new commericial complex ,”KIRARITO GINZA”(a gleam in Ginza) opened this 30th in 1st block in Ginza, Tokyo.(http://www.kirarito-ginza.jp/)(http://www.kirarito-ginza.jp/pdf/language.pdf)

The  building is 66m high and has 12 floors, each of which include first-rate stores, restanrants,and  other establishments of totally 52. The basic concept is a bright shiny space like  diamonds and the “brilliant life” image is adopted.  jewelry stores, clothes shops, and even a wedding hall are there.

 

 

Ding Tai Fung, a  popular Taiwanese restraunt chain which was selected one of the top 10 restaurants of the world by New York Times, opened a branch in the new complex and only there special xialongbao(Chinese soup dumplings) whose primary ingredient is truffles are served in Japan. (http://d.rt-c.co.jp/ginza/)

BRT will be introduced in Tokyo for Olympics 2020

Tokyo Metropolis announced a new plan of introducing a BRT(bus rapid transit ) system in the central areas of Tokyo and its waterfront areas  in preparation for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in 2020 on 29th.

The first od series of new bus routes will be one between Shinbashi and Toranomon this year, and the total plan is scheduled to be finished in 2019.  The central areas, such as Toranomon and Ginza and will be connected to the waterfront ones,such as Harumi and Ariake,and Odaiba where the Olympic village is to be built, with about 4 km distances in about 10 miutes by bus due to the new BRT using the Beltline No.2. The public traffic and transportation services are expected to be much more convenient to move around in polular  parts in Tokyo in coming years.

Ginza Matsuzakaya closed for reconstruction

Ginza Matsuzakaya, one of the major department store chains’ flagship store closed its business for reconstruction on Jun.30th.

The store was opened in 1924 and now put an end to its 88-year history for the construction. On the premise, a new shopping mall complex with  13  floors above ground and  6 below is planned to be built in 2017. However, if  Matsuzakaya itself  is to be open ine the new building is still up in the air. On the final day, for the special sale, more than 1,000  customers got to the store making a long line. The new establishment is aimed to gather much more customers in the middle of  Ginza, the most popular and  fanciest  hopping street of Japan.

“Oneri”, walking parade of Kabuki stars in Ginza

On this March 27th, about 60 Kabuki stars joined a special event of  celebrating the grand opening of  the newly rebuilt Kabukiza (the main Kabuki theater in Higashi Ginza)planned to open on coming April 2nd in Ginza, Tokyo.

The event was called “Oneri”, which was a walking parade on the main street for about one hour 10:00-11:00. Tojuro Sakata, president of Japan Actors’ Association as well as a versed Kabuki actor made an opening speech, “A new chapter in the  history of the 400- year old  Kabuki  is about to me marked. We sincerely ask you to support Kabuki and the new Kabukiza. “. Junichi Sakomoto, president of Shochiku that facilitate kabuki shows gave a sign to start the parade and  banners were hung and  kabuki actors such as  Tokizo Nakamura, Ennosuke Ichikawa, Ebizo Ichikawa, Kankuro Nakamura, Schinosuke Nakamura, and other  popular Kabuki stars showed up, clad in traditional  Japanese clothing of  Montsuki-hakama,  and joined the parade, led by Japanese style acrobats.  They waved their hands to excited spectators of about 20,000 and walked about 400m there.

 

 

The 120th anniversary of pearl- cuturing technology

This year 2013, the pearl industry commemorates the 120th anniversary of  pearl-culturing technology. 

 

Koukichi Mikimoto, the founder of  MIKIMOTO (http://www.mikimoto.com/jp/) whose flagship store is located in Ginza Tokyo succeeded in culturing pearls as the first case in the world in 1893.  Since then Koukichi was called “The King of Pearl”.

On this 30th  MIKIMOTO released a special accessory with pearls and jewels called “MIKIMOTO Pearl Crown “DREAMS&PEARLS”- twelve pearls and dreams”.

the item can change its form between a “crown” and a” necklace” and  has a shape of  12 flower blossoms made of big natural pearls of 5 different types and 3400 diamonds.  The designers took more than 2 years to complete this breathtaking and splendid pearl treasure.

To tell the truth, I am a distant relative of koukichi Mikimoto and recently on 18th this month, I learned a basic concept of pearls  at a  lecture program for tour guides jointly hosted by JGA(Japan Guide Association), the oldest and biggest guide- interpreters organization, and  TASAKI, a major pearl and jewelry store company like MIKIMOTO.  (http://www.tasaki.co.jp/)

Therefore, I am so happy I learned ABC of the concept of pearls in this special year to pearl industry.

 

“Kumamon” in Tokyo advertizes the attraction of Mt. Aso in Kumamoto

Kumamon, the image character for public relations of  promoting Mt.Aso and other areas in Kumamoto Pref,  conducted special campaign in Tokyo. (http://kumamon-official.jp/)

 

Kumamon is a bear image character for “kuma” in Japanese means a bear. And Kumamoto is located on Kyushu, the southwestern part of Japan but  now is promoting attractions of Kumamoto in Tokyo putting a lot of  posters and wrapping trains for a certain term.

○Tokyo Metro Ginza Line  wrapping cars  “Kumamon U Liner”  Jan.25-Feb.8th.

○Marunouchi Line　Shinjyuku Station　Kumamon’s huge poster Jan.21-27.

○Special official website to promote Mt.Aso area Jan.17-March 31. (http://www.kininaru-k.jp/)

IMF/WBG Annual Meetings in Tokyo

IMF(International Monetary Fund) and WBG(World bank Group) Annual meetings were held in Tokyo  for the first time in 48 years Oct.9-14.(http://www.imf-wb.2012tokyo.mof.go.jp/en/index.html)

Japan hosted such meetings 48 years ago which was the very same year that Japan  hosted Tokyo Olympics, which was a remarkable symbolic event of Japan’s successful recovery form the economic recession due to the post war aftermaths of WW2. Now, the Japan’s economic, political, and social positions and international community’s situations have drastically changed as well. This time the second  time’s phases have shown the historic exaltation of the country.

There were four venues of the event, namely, TIF(Tokyo International Forum),IM(Imperial Hotel),Hotel Okura, and  TCCI (Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry), all of which are located in the very center of this capital of Japan .    Totally official participants were from 187 countries and registered visitors and participants , their dependents amounted to about 20,000.   Top economic leaders of the world got together and Tokyo soaked in the heat and excitement of  the great festivity.  On the 12th, the plenary and official banquet hosted by Noda, the prime minister of Japan were held.

There were about 20 official hotels designated as official accommodation for the participants and dependents and  special hospitality programs were prepared which provided them with  various short trips such as on-day visit to Yokohama,  visiting Tsukiji  Fish Market,  Tokyo Sky Tree just built in this year, shopping at depachika (basement floors in  department stores ),cultural experience tour such as a tea ceremony,  learning how to wear kimono, and so forth. A lot of  participants and other registered visitors enjoyed those short tours or traditional Japanese cultural experiencing events.

The local host of the Annual Meetings were MOF (Minister of Finance) and Bank of Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan Government ,and so many people including volunteer staffers,  pro tour guides, escorts and others attended the visitors from all over the world.  The hosts, the government, and  others say more than 10 billion yen  revenue can be expected from this greatly worldwide financial series of events.  We hope this has influenced  betterment of Japanese economy, tourism, and society as a whole.

London Olympics’ medalists’ parade in Ginza, 500,000 spectators

A huge parade event of  London Olympics medalists was hosted in Ginza, the busiest and most popular shopping toen in Japan by JOC on Aug.20th.

   

This event was held in order to celebrate the record- high number of the Japanese athletes’ medals at the London Olympics this year, which is 38 (Gold:7, Silver 14, Bronze:17). Totally 71 medalists of the games including all of the 7 Gold medalists joined the parade and   waved and smiled to the spectators and passers-by in convertible cars and buses.

Surprisingly, the total number of the spectators and passers-by is said to have added up to about 500,000.  Ginza, the biggest and fanciest shopping town in the country, had never been visited by such a high number of people before the event took place in history,which implies this parade itself also made the mark of “record-high” as the number of the medals.    All the people there were quite excited and whole of the area enjoyed the crazy

A new style Ginza-line train car “Series 1000” started operation

A new train cars “Series 1000” of Ginza-line started operation on this April 11th.(http://www.tokyometro.jp/series1000/index.html)

A grand launching ceremony of the new car series was hosted at Asakusa station  on that day, where Emi Takei, a young popular female actor, clad in a station staff uniform, was in charge of  emcee who conducted  ribbon-cutting, giving bouquet flowers, and so forth. Takei is the image character

of “We are the Tokyo Navigator” the promotion campaign of Tokyo Metro.

The cars structure and the color of lemon yellow resemble the original cars’ appearances of Ginza-line when it started its operation 85 years ago. This time the first train of the new series cars departed the station at 12:11pm.  

The new series cars are operated as “Photo gallery Trains” whose cabins are decorated with old photos describing 85-year history of the line, the clock tower of the main building of Wako in Ginza 80 years ago, and others up to this April 30th.