Archive for 'Tokyo' Category

The memorial service to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake

On  this March 11th  the national memorial service to commemorate the Fourth Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake was hosted by the government and  the emperor,empress, PM Abe,  the chairpersons of the House of the Councillors and the House of  the Representatives, the chief judge of the Supreme Court, bereaved families and others were invited at the National Theater in Tokyo.(http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-okotoba/01/address/okotoba-h27e.html#0311)

 

The emperor , prime minister, and bereaved families gave impressive sppeches there.  Commemorative ceremonies  of the fourth anniverssary of the unforgettable tragedy of the huge disaster were held in many places including the damaged areas all over Japan.

US Ambassador Kennedy thanks the donor of the hina dolls to JFK after 53 years

US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy gave a video clip of  appreciation to the donor of  hina doll set  that was given to  the late John .F. Kennedy, the-then US president 53 years ago this Feb.26th.  C.Kennedy  had long searched for the donor of  the special present to her father before she finally found the person with the US embassy staff.

 

The donor is Ms. Taeko Matsumoto (92 yrs) in Kitami City Hokkaido. Hina dolls are special dolls  representing ancient emperors, empresses, courtiers and their styles and  are decorated on the Girls’ Day falling on March 3rd to wish for a girl’s good fortune and health.  This time the dolls proved to be a rapport between  Japan and US.

Japan Academy Prizes 2015

The 38th Japan Academy Prizes 2015 was held at a hotel in Tokyo and The Best prizes were given to the nominated works.(http://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/index.php)

“The Eternal Zero”, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eternal_Zero)a work describing a zero fighter’s pilot killed in the war won the Best  Picture prize and other seven best prizes, which was the first situation in the event’s history.   Jyunichi Okada, who starred in that film won the Best Actor prize, also won the Best Supporting Actor prize with “Higurashi-no-ki”(/The diary of the higurashi cicada). Okada’s record was also the first one in the event’s history.  The Best Animation Picture was given to “STAND BY ME, Doraemon”. And other works and staff won various awards there.

The last BlueTrain finishing its operation in March

The “Blue Trains” are  popular express trains  with sleeping berths that launched operation in 1958. Most of the Blue Train series have terminated services due to decrepitude or old systems. The only remaining in service is “Hokutosei”(/The Polar Star) that runs between Ueno  station in Tokyo and Sapporo station in Hokkaido. And Hokutosei, the Last Blue Train,  is terminating its service in this March 14th because of aging and the need for JR to rearrange its railroad tables and systems for the plans of  the upcoming bullet train services in Hokkaido.

A lot of railroad fans take travels using Hokutosei or take its photos  sparing the short and precious remaining days of the Blue Trains.

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.

“Sazae-san Exhibition” at the main Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo

“Sazae-san” is a nationwide popular manga work being loved by Japanese people through generations. It’s special exhibition was held Feb.4-16 at the main Mitsukoshi department store in Nihonbashi Tokyo(http://www.sazaesan45.com/)

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Miyu Koike’s fan event of the first visit to Meiji Shrine

A young female idol Miyu Koike, who has become popular especially due to a TV show called “God Tongue”(http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/god/), hosted a special fan- meeting event  of  the first visiting of the year to Meiji Shrine in Harajuku Tokyo on the Jan. 3rd.(http://koikemiyu.cm-ent.jp/)

She sings “Nakimushi Princess”(/Crybaby princess) that is the theme song of “Anime mashite”, a TV show of featuring anime information.(http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/animemashite/index2.html) So, noe she is a popular singer and idol of subculture. This time she prayed at one of the most popular shinto shrine with a lot of  fans of hers for good luck fo the new year.

The 56 Japan Record Awards Grand Prix “R.Y.U.S.E.I” of J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE(the third genereation)

The 56th Japan Record Awards ceremony was held today Dec.30th in Tokyo.(http://www.tbs.co.jp/recordaward/)  “R.Y.U.S.E.I.” of JSoul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE (/sandaime, the third generation) received the Grand prix. (http://www.jsoulb.jp/)

○The Best Rookie Singer Award/  Mariya Nishiuchi,  ○The Best Singer Award/ EXILE ATSUSHI,   ○The Special Singer Music Award/ Hiroshi Itsuki, ○The Special Film Theme Music Award/ “Anna and The Snow Queen”,  ○The Special Award/ “Youkai Watch”, ○The Best Album Award/ “TRAD” of Mariya Takeuchi, and some other wards ere given to excellent singers, composers, lyricists, and other music artists.

Tokyo Station celebrated its centennial anniversary

Tokyo Station, which is one of the symbols of Tokyo and Japanese modernization, in Chiyoda-ward Tokyo near the Imperial Palace, celebrated its centennial anniversary on this Dec.20th. (http://www.tokyostationcity.com/100years/)

At 9:40am on the 20th,  JR East (Japan Railroads East) started sell the 100th anniversary Suica, the IC passes but suspended  the event due to the too many people people rushing there.

However, two days later, JR east annnounced to sell them again so that everyone that wanted the passe can purchase it.  After the completion of the renewal construction of its building, that station has became even more popular and accepts huge number of visitors including tourists.

Inui-dori (Inui Avenue) in the Imperial Palace open to public

Inui-dori(/Inui Avenue) in the Imperial Palace was opened to public and accepted casual visitors Dec.3-7 in celebration of the 80th birthday of the current Emperor. (http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/eindex.html)   (http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/event/inui.html)

Inui-dori is an about 650-meter-long avenue between the Inui gate on the side of Kitanomaru Park and the office building of the Imperal Household Agency, lined by 59  Japanese maples and trident maples.  The above 5 days were thought to be the best time to enjoy viewing the autumnal foliages there. Actually, 54,000 people visited there on only the first day, which led to the earlier opening time of 9:30(originally planned to open at 10:00). And 349,500 people visited and enjoyed strolling and floliage- viewing there on the five days in total.

 

A blue cave illumination over Meguro River

Meguro River, which runs through Nakameguro area that is a sophisticated bustling district in Tokyo popular among young people, now has a special illumination service for the first time Nov.23-Dec.25.

In this service the the roads along the riverbank are all decorated with special blue lights all the course of about 500 m long. The illuminated areas look like fantastic  “Grotta Azzurra”, the Blue Cave on Capri Island in Italy.   Meguro River is very popular in spring for the cherry avenue along the river provides breathtaking beauty of  the cherry blossoms, So, this time Pink in spring and blue in late autumn-early winter can make a coloful contrast to make visitors there relaxed and comfortable.

4,029 people received decorations on the Culture Day

Nov.3rd is the Culture Day, and  4,029 people including some foreigners who were considered to have made a huge contribution to the Japanese society or nation were conferred of decorations by the emperor. Some of them are such as,  Kirin Kiki,an popular actor, Yuzo Kayama, a famous singer, actor,and lylicist, and  Sumitaiyu Takemoto, a great master pappeteer of Bunraku, the traditional Japanese pappet theater.    

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/)

TIFF 27 being held

Tokyo International Film Festival 27 is being held Oct.23-31 at some venues, Roppongi, Nihonbashi and so forth in  Tokyo.(http://2014.tiff-jp.net/en/)

At the festival’s opening, special program of featuring works of  Hideaki Anno, the director of Evangelion series and other popular anime works and also known as the voice actor who played the main part of “The Wind Rises” was supplied. (http://khara.co.jp/hideakianno/personal-biography.html)

A suspense film, “Paper Moon” was run and the main part’s actor,Sae Myazawa appeaered on the stage. And Ultra Seven and tthe old actors of “Ultra Seven”, an old popular Sci-fi TV drama turned up on the stage.

 

Visit Japan Travel Mart and JATA Toursim EXPO Japan 2014

Two huge international travel marts were held at Tokyo Bigsight in Tokyo. One was “Visit Japan Travel Mart 2014″(Sep.24-26)(http://www.vjtm.jp/) and the other was “JATA Toursim EXPO Japan2014″(Sep.25-28)(http://t-expo.jp/en/index.html).  

More than 310 foriegn buyers and about 390 Japanese sellers joined VJTM2014 and had passionate exchanges of information and ideas and hosted busines seccions.  Buyers from Asian countries were especially a lot and about the half of the Japanese sellers were municipalities or relating associations of such local governments.

On the other hand,  a lot of domestic and foreign sellers and buysers joined  JATA Tourism EXPO Japan 2014. Such participants were embassies, tourism bureaus, travel agents, food companies, municipalities, railroads, airlines, hotels. universities, guide associations and so forth.  The main targets were end users of travel services and a lot of  lay Japanese people visited there and the total number was 157,589.  Upon the opening of the event, an ward ceremony  of  good  services and efforts of related promotions was hosted and the Best Tourism Award was given to The Tourism Authority of Thailand and Embassy awards were for  Thailand and Mexico, the best transporatation award was for Japan Railways East, the domestic inbound award was for  the tourism department of Tokyo Metropolis, the publicity award was for a TV show of CXTV, and the chairperson special award was for Okinawa Convention Bureau. (http://t-expo.jp/en/program/cms.html)   I personally visited the two big events and collected a lot of interesting information and exchanged ideas with the participants, some of whom were my friends or those I sometimes work with. I enjoyed the delicious food provided by tourism- related restaurants and local specialities and impressed by the greatly enthusiastic atmosphere of energies of the expos as well.