I recently had the pleasure of a relaxing one night retreat from my daily life and thanks to the generosity of The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo you too can relax your cares away while pondering the your own private view of Tokyo’s impressive nighttime skyline, but let me tell you more about the hotel first…

The lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo sits on the 45th floor and is a peaceful oasis unto itself – modern flower arrangements grace the large lobby tables and a pianist plays classical music for patrons partaking of afternoon tea.  For those looking to imbibe in something a little stronger the lobby bar is located beyond an infinity pool and fountain that will wash away any stress that you may be harboring.

Also off the lobby is French restaurant, Forty Five, and Hinokizaka, specializing in Japanese cuisine, both with lovely views of the city. I sipped champagne and dined on Le Menu at Forty Five while overlooking Tokyo Tower on a rare haze-free summer day in the city and enjoyed both the food and the view tremendously!

If you are looking for space, the rooms at The Ritz Carleton Tokyo have plenty to spare.  All the rooms in the hotel feature “standard” marble bathrooms that are the size of many Tokyo apartments, featuring two well appointed vanities, a luxurious tub, and even a television!

A small desk, two comfortable sitting chairs and another television grace the room where the star is the bed itself covered with luxurious Frette linens and pillows that beckon you to a relaxing nights sleep or simply a short nap.    Privacy shades and room darkening curtains ensure that the level of light is to your liking at all times and can be changed and the touch of a button from conveniently placed bedside controls.

I suggest that you borrow one of the great pillows from the well appointed bed and perch on the comfortably wide window ledge to watch the sun set over Tokyo.  As the city lights begin to twinkle and the sun sets behind Mount Fuji and Roppongi Hills, Shinjuku or the Imperial Palace, take it all in before heading down for dinner in the hotel or at one of the many great restaurants in Tokyo Midtown.

Upon your return, you will be greeted by a plush terry robe, bedside slippers, a chocolate on your pillow, some complimentary water and a perfectly turned down bed where you can dream the night away high above the city.

The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo

• Dining over Tokyo
• Spa Services
• Guest Rooms & Packages

You Can Win A Stay at The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo!

Staying at the Ritz is a treat reserved for very special occasions for most and my stay was no exception – I was honored to be a guest for one night and along with The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo want you to experience all that the Ritz has to offer.

To win a one night midweek stay (Sunday through Thursday) in a deluxe room at The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo here is what you need to do:

1. Peruse the The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo website to learn more about the services and amenities that are offered, and,
2. Pick just one (it will be hard) that defines luxury and relaxation to you,
3. Then, tweet it to your followers with a link back to this contest page with the RitzTokyo hashtag (e.g. “I want to win a night at the #RitzTokyo & get an essential body massage – you can enter too! http://su.pr/1Wrm1V .”

OR

1. If you have your own website but aren’t yet on Twitter,  write about the contest on your site, following the guidelines above, and,
2. Ensure that there is a track back to this post.

Terms & Conditions

1. Contest will run from Friday, September 4, 2009 through midnight on Sunday, September 6, 2009 (Japan Standard Time)
2. Contest winner must be of legal age in Japan to claim the prize (20 years old).
3. Only one (1) prize will be awarded.
4. Prize must be utilized within six months of being awarded, is non-transferable once issued, and can only be utilized at The Ritz-Carton Tokyo.
5. One entry per day per person for the term of the contest.
6. Contest winner will be drawn randomly via Random.org
7. If the winner is on Twitter, they will be notified by direct message on Friday, September 11, 2009 so be sure to follow @shanesakata on Twitter so that you receive the DM, or,
8. If the winner is the result of an article written on another website the winner will be contacted via that website’s published contact information.
9. In either case, if no reply is received within 24 hours of notification a new winner will be chosen.

Image Credit:  Images provide by and used with permission from The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo

Tokyo beers gardens can be found in parks and on building rooftops throughout the city  and there’s nothing better than enjoying a cold beer, or two, with friends on a warm summer evening in the city. Social and business networking on Tokyo has now been taken to a new level with the creation of the Tokyo Garden Party.

On a sweltering summer day in 2008, two of Tokyo’s up-and-coming creative agencies got together to discuss ways in which to work together. Instead of having the meeting at their office, they decided to rendezvous at the beer garden on the roof of Bunkamura in Shibuya.

“It was such a beautiful afternoon, it seemed crazy to stay inside”, says Wayne J. Moskwa, creative designer at fusionbureau. “For two agencies that specialized in breaking the rules it seemed like the natural place to get together”. Over several plates of edamame (boiled soy beans) and a few rounds of daijoki (big beers), bonds were formed which led to the fusionbureau team taking on the task of rebuilding the SET website and SET putting together an event for one of fusionbureau’s clients.

It worked out so well that they decided to start a networking event between the two firms. Johan Rooms from fusionbureau explained how the original idea was to bring along one or two clients each time and talk and drink together casually about possible collaborations. “We envisioned around 15-20 people getting together every once in a while in the hope of finding some synergy”.

Fast forward to 2009 and Tokyo Garden Party is the talk of the town…sort of. Now getting ready their 4th event, the jointly run networking event is garnering great reviews and a rapidly growing Facebook army. Greg McMaster from SET says they were amazed by the response. “We were aiming for 30 people for the first event, held at Shibuya Bunkamura in honor of the place where the idea first took shape, but we had over 60 despite the dodgy weather”.

The format is fairly loose and there are no guest speakers or presentations.  Rather it is simply an opportunity to get together in a casual open-air setting and talk. The Facebook page says that it is for marketing and advertising industry people but this was only because they didn’t have a wide enough category to cover what the organizers wanted. It is open to anyone either living in Tokyo or visiting from abroad. Basically if you enjoy drinking outdoors, it’s the event for you.

Greg Lane from fusionbureau says the idea was to create something that was pretty much without rules. “We have toyed with the idea of presenters and special guests but we might leave that until the hangover of year one has passed and we start planning for 2010″.

If you want to get more information check out the Tokyo Garden Party Facebook page, visit the Tokyo Garden Party website or follow @tokyobeergarden on Twitter.

Upcoming Tokyo Garden Parties

Thursday, August 13 at 7:00pm – Jingu-Gaien ‘Mori no Biagaaden’ (The Forest Beer Garden)

Join the party by leaving your RSVP on the Tokyo Garden Party Facebook page.

Image Credit: Facebook, Photos from Tokyo Garden Party #2 & Photos from Tokyo Garden Party #3

The Sky Aquarium intersperses art among fish tanks and utilizes fish tanks and their occupants as art – it is more like a living museum of modern art than a traditional aquarium.  The views of the city aren’t bad either!

Last year, the fish cavorted about within a folding screen with superimposed shadows and colors that changed.  I was mesmerized!

This year the fish swim in Japanese lanterns with similar lighting and shadow effects and can be seen in an aquatic staircase in the Japonism Gallery.

In Go swim with fishes high in the sky, The Japan Times reviewed the event and describes the six zones of illusion in this years exhibit as follows:

• The Caribbean Blue Hole is a large transparent fish tank that can be viewed from the top, around its circumference, or even the bottom.
• The Art Aquarium Gallery where fish tanks are transformed into art by ten artists using materials from the sea.
• The Fantasia zone features jellyfish and colored lasers
• The Japonism Gallery, described above
• In Kaleidorium you can view the tanks as if through a kaleidoscope
• The Prisrium features fish swimming about in a tank shaped like a multifaceted diamond.

If you are visiting the city and are looking for a great view of the skyline, an aquarium and an art gallery all rolled into one then Tokyo City View is the place to be.  If you miss Sky Aquarium III, Mori Tower still worth a visit, just make a sojourn to the Mori Art Museum located in the same complex to get your fill of contemporary art.

Sky Aquarium III Event Details

Event Dates: July 17th – October 4th, 2009

Times: 11AM – Midnight weedays & Sundays (last admission 11:30PM) – Fridays & Saturdays 11AM – 1AM  (last admission midnight)

Admission: Y2,300 (Includes admission to Tokyo City View Observations Deck & Mori Art Museum)

Access: A short walk from Tokyo Metro Roppongi Station. (Mori Tower Access Map)

Image Credit: Flickr, Mori Tower View 2 & Personal Collection

The name Kagurazaka is a combination of kagura (a shrine-dance to music) and saka (hill) and evokes the sites and topography of this beautiful part of Tokyo.   The layout of the area is much the same as it was when the town was built in the 17th century despite the fact that most of the area was burned down as the result of an air raid on Tokyo in 1920.

The annual Kagurazaka festival takes place each July and features a Hozuki Ichi (Ground Cherry Pod Fair) and parades featuring Awa Odori folk dancers.  This years festival takes place from July 22nd through the 25th and it’s a great opportunity to explore the area.

Festival events are schedule in the evening so head out early and explore the cobblestone alleyways and shops of this area where Karyukai, or Geisha culture, was born.   In 1910 there were as many as 600 Geishas who made the area home and a few Ryotei (Geisha houses) still operate in the area.  The Shinjuku City Tourism Association offers a great guide to Kagurazaka with some photos and history of the various points of interest.  Also, be sure to ask an area vendor for a copy of the Walking Guide for Kagurazawa.

Awa Odori on Kagurazaka Slope

The highlight of the festival is the Awa odori, a local bon dance from Tokushima Prefecture featuring  fifteen dance troupes parading down Kagurazaka Dori from 7-9PM on July 24th & 25th. (Kagurazaka Festival Map)

Hozuki Ichi

The area around the Bishamonten Zenkokuji Temple hosts the Hozuki Ichi (Ground Cherry Pod Fair) on July 22nd & 23rd from 5-10PM.  Enjoy the beer garden and consider taking advantage of the yukata (summer cotton kimono) dress up service so you can strolling through the area like a local.

Kagurazaka is conveniently located and accessible from the JR IIdabashi station on the Yamanote Line. As you exit the station, turn to your right and a one minute walk will place you at the base of Kagurazaka-dori.  Tokyo Metro Iidabashi and Ushigome-Kagurazaka stations also provide access to the area.

If you plan on attending the festival with children you will find the tips and advice in Take your Kids to a Festival in Japan helpful.

Image Credit:  Flickr, P1000984 Kagurazaka & Awa Odori, Tokushima, Japan [2008]

Our host for the evening stressed the concept of “feeling’ the culture, and while it may sounds trite it is a good way to approach the evening.  The beating of the taiko and tsuzumi (hand drum), the haunting melodies of the fue (bamboo flute) and shamisen accompany traditional dances and songs performed by Geisha that will transport you back to the Edo period or earlier when Geisha were in high demand at parties and tea houses across Japan.

“A Geisha is a woman trained in the traditional arts of Japan which include dance, song and the playing of musical instruments who must first serve as a Maiko or apprentice Geisha.  Maiko training involves a four to five year commitment and a passion for traditional Japanese arts and culture. So is the Geisha lifestyle for you?”

Learn more about the incredible commitment of these women with a passion for traditional Japanese arts and lifestyle in So You Want To Become A Geisha?.

As you dine on tsumami (traditional Japanese hors d-oeuvres) made with seasonal ingredients and sip sake you will be introduced to the traditional arts that are part of the cultural heritage of Japan through the skilled performances of kimono clad geisha.

Omotenashi is “the act of providing detailed service in a variety of ways for allow guests to spend a relaxing and memorable time” and this standard of service is reflected in the name of the program, “Nihonbashi the Omotenashi Experience”.

As we dined upon nasu dengaku (eggplant broiled in miso), anago-bou sushi (grilled eel on rice), houzuki-shinjo (deep fried shrimp dumpling), edamame (boiled soybeans) and other tasty delicacies we were treated to six acts of ohayashi (music and games) over almost two hours.

The Geisha on this evening were from the Asakusa district and treated us to three dances with songs accompanied by the shamisen.  The dramatic movements of the Geisha told the stories of their daily life, about summer in Asakusa, the historic Hanayashiki amusement park, the Sanja Matsuri and other seasonal events and sights in the area.  The last dance was the Sawagi which is said to be one of the most popular dances performed at traditional banquets.

Next, the fue and tsuzmi player took to the stage to perform a haunting song about the summer rain that was the highlight of my evening.  The talented flautist used two different styles of bamboo flute during her performance that was charged with emotion and, for me, the provided the “feeling” that our host for evening described.

Two entertaining Geisha games rounded out the evening.  After a brief explanation of the rules and a demonstration, guests were invited to join the Geisha on stage and join in the fun.

The first game, Tosenkyo,  involved throwing a Japanese folding fan at a small “butterfly” target set upon a pillow (pictured above).  It was a lot of fun, but not as easy as you might think!

The second game, Tora-Tora-Tora (tiger-tiger-tiger), is similar to Jan Ken Pon (rock, paper, scissors) but involves a lively dance performed by two players on opposite sides of a folding screen and culminates with each opponent striking the pose of either a samurai warrior, a tiger or an old woman.  The samurai beats the tiger, the tiger beats the old woman, but the old woman beats the warrior as she is his mother.

After the entertainment portion of the evening the four Geisha made a visit to each table and were very happy to answer questions (through bilingual hostesses) and show off their beautiful kimonos.

While the performances were all in Japanese, our host for the evening offered introductions in English that enhanced our understanding and enjoyment of the dances, music and games.  The evening was a lot of fun and offered a rare and interesting look into the world of the traditional Geisha arts.

You too can spend an evening amongst Geisha in Tokyo!  In fact, Muromachi Fukutokujuku is offering a Summer Special in for the month of August where the usual fee of Y12,000 per person is cut in half, to Y6,000.

Muromachi Fukutokujuku “Nihonbashi the Omotenashi Experience”

Schedule: April & May – 2nd and 4th Saturdays, June through September 1st and 3rd Saturdays.

Fee: Y12,000 per person – performances below at special Summer rates of Y6,000 per person:

August 1, 2009 features Geisha from the Kagurazaka district and a performance of Shinnai, a style of joruri (narrative singing), accompanied by the shamisen.

August 22, 2009 features Geisha from the Kagurazaka district and a performance of Daikagura, a performing art that pays tributes to the Gods and exercises evil spirits on behalf of those who may not be able to visit Shinto Shrines in person and includes performances of koma mawashi (top spinning) and kasa mawashi (umbrella spinning).

Programs: Ohayashi (the program I attended), Houkan (male Geisha, of which there are only five in Japan), Shinnai and Daikagura (both described above). The six Geisha districts listed at the beginning of this article rotate through the different programs.

Time: Registration starts at 5:45PM and the program runs from 6PM through to 7:30PM or slightly later.

Dress Code: Smart Casual (no shorts, ripped jeans, t-shirts or sandals for men)

Access: Two minute walk from Mitsukoshimae Station on the Hanzomon line of Tokyo Metro.

Information: Download the PDF for Nihonbashi the Omotenashi Experience Access and program information (page 1 & page 2)

Reservations: Via email to rsv [at] tokyo-kimonoclub [dot] com or via fax to 03-5642-6087 (Japan)

Many thanks to Takehara-san and Etsuko from Tokyofoodcast for providing me with the opportunity to attend “Nihonbashi the Omotenashi Experience” and share it with you.

Image Credit:  Personal Collection

As you enter Yakitori Alley you will be met with a chorus of irishaimase (welcome) from the staff of the many closet sized restaurants that line the u-shaped alleyway, the tempting aroma of grilled meat and the festive sounds of patrons relaxing and enjoying the themselves with their friends after a long day at the office or out on the town.

Yakitori Alley, named after the grilled chicken skewers that are the specialty of the alleyway’s restaurants, offers an atmosphere that is casual and fun.  The restaurants are so small that most patrons dine in the alley itself on rickety stools that sit alongside small tables made from empty Kirin beer crates.

Perch yourself on a stool and order a cold beer to enjoy while you peruse the menu.  Many of the establishments have very basic English menus and staff, that while not quite bilingual, can help you place your order.  Cold beer, edamame and a complimentary dish cucumber tsukemono (pickles) were a pleasant way to relax and cool down on a recent muggy evening in the city.

While we waited the grilling began in a tiny kitchen right behind us. Yaktori and other skewered foods are cooked over charcoal on a special grill that is a common sight at festivals and restaurants throughout Japan.  Long and narrow, the skewers are rested on a ledge so that only the food is in contact with the heat.  The cook places the food on one end of the grill and slowly rolls it towards the other end until it is done.

Our chicken and leeks grilled to perfection…

Pork, sausages, meatballs and other tasty grilled treats are also on the menu but we steered clear of the liver, heart, skin and gizzards that some nearby diners were enjoying.

The setting may be humble and so is the food but it’s a great place to spend an evening with friends in Tokyo that will have you saying Oishikatta!

To get to Yakitori Alley take the train to either the Yurakucho or Ginza Stations and walk for a few minutes.  The alley is located beneath the Yurakucho Mallion alongside the JR Line on this map of Ginza.

Photo Credit:  Personal Collection

Game centers (video game arcades) can be found in almost every neighborhood and Ferris Wheels seem to have a special place in the hearts of the Japanese as many large ones are scattered about the country.

In Yokohama’s Minato Mirai area you will find Yokohama Cosmo World, home to one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world at a height of 112.5 meters.  You can also enjoy a roller coaster ride and a long flume ride at Yokohama Cosmo World.

Image Credit:  Flickr, Yokohama Cosmoworld

Sanrio Puroland is home to Japan’s iconic feline, Hello Kitty, and her friends  Located about forty minutes from Shinjuku Station via the Keio Line, in Tama, the amusement park features a tour of Hello Kitty’s boudoir, a Sanrio character boat ride and you can even dress up as your favorite Sanrio character and have your photo taken at the Mini Photo Plant .

Image Credit:  Flickr,   夜のピューロランド入口 by Kawarano

Tokyo Dome City is home to the Big O, the world’s first center-less Ferris wheel at La Qua with a roller coaster whose track takes your right through its center!

Image Credit:  Flickr, Spokeless

Universal Studios Japan is located near Osaka and a visit will allow you to take in the amazing adventures of Spiderman, visit Jurassic park, go Back to the Future or be terrified by Jaws!

Image Credit:  Flickr, Globe

In Kagoshima you will find a Ferris Wheel perched atop the JR Kagoshima Station and in the Dotombori area of Osaka you will find another Ferris Wheel  – this time it’s not round but eliptical!

Image Credit:  Flickr, Japan 2008 – album David – 805.jpg & Dotomborigawa

Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea sit along the shores of Tokyo Bay in Chiba Prefecture.  Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek! opened in April and from today through August 31, 2009 Mike & Sulley join up to host Club Monsters, Inc. in front of Cinderella’s castle featuring dancing and frolicking with Mickey & friends.

Image Credit:  Flickr, Disneyland entrance

Sega Joypolis located in Tokyo’s Odaiba area is a place that gamers will not want to miss.  This venue offers a modern take on the amusement park and is home to a number of indoor virtual reality rides, roller coasters and a wide assortment of video and arcade games for all ages.

Image Credit:  Flickr, Sega Joypolis – Tokyo Odaiba

Lastly, one more Ferris Wheel – this one in Nagoya!

Image Credit:  Flickr, Ferris wheel in a shopping area.

It’s not hard to amuse yourself in Japan anytime of the year and opportunities to do so are plentiful.  So take a break from the temples, shrines and festivals when you visit this summer and make some time for some good old fashioned fun that transcends borders.

The path to the shrine itself is usually a peaceful portal even if it is the midst of a bustling city.  As you reach the end of the path you likely will pass by a purification fountain where worshippers stop to cleanse themselves before heading the the main hall of the shrine to pray.  (To learn more about the etiquette of visiting a shrine in Japan take a moment to read Purity & Prayer at Japanese Shrines.)

In addition to what one might refer to as a traditional prayer, worshipers often write their prayers on tiny white strips of paper and leave them tied to a sacred tree or to a special structure.  The white paper strips present an accumulation of the wishes of many and is a sight I often stop to ponder for a moment.

Worshipers may also purchase ema (wooden prayer plaques) and write their message on the back before leaving it behind.

The scene pictured on the left is not quite typical and one of those vignettes.  In addition to the colorful ema of Kameido Tenjin, there are also groupings of 1,000 paper cranes hanging in a silent wish that is traditionally made for peace.

I can spend hours wandering about the nooks and crannies of almost any shrine precincts and am rarely disappointed in the view.

This and other great images of Japan can be found in The Nihon Sun Japan Photo Gallery.

Image Credit:  Personal Collection

The Tama River begins in the mountains of Yamanashi Prefecture and flows 138 kilometers eastward through Tokyo Prefecture emptying into Tokyo Bay next to Haneda Airport. The lower portion of the river forms the boundary between Tokyo and the neighboring city of Kawasaki.

Rapid post-war urbanization made the Tama River uninhabitable for many types of fish. Pollution control measures, the fitting of weirs with fish ladders, and the river’s official designation as a wildlife protection zone have greatly improved conditions, and have lead to a return of many species. Among them is the Far Eastern dace or maruta in Japanese.

Among anglers there are a number of fish that have been called “the poor man’s salmon” – easily available fish that offer some of the great sport of catching that aristocratic fish, but without the time, travel and expense required to pursue salmon. My nominee for the Japanese title is the maruta (Tribolodon brandti).
The Far Eastern dace is a member of the minnow family, but a minnow with pretensions. Like salmon, maruta spend most of their adult lives in saltwater migrating upriver to spawn and like salmon, they can be caught by sports fishermen with flies and lures. These mega-minnows grow to over 60 centimeters in length and are strong hard-fighters.

For much of the year the Far Eastern dace is silver-colored, but when spawning season arrives, this fish dresses for the occasion. Its color darkens and the maruta develops a black racing stripe with bright orange trim.

I found fishing for maruta very similar to stream fishing for pink salmon in Hokkaido and Alaska. Dace favor similar stretches of fast shallow water and the deeper pockets above and below them. As with salmon, it is necessary to cast above a school of fish bringing the fly or lure through it while keeping a tight line. The dace are more interested in spawning, so the fly must come with in a couple centimeters of the fish’s mouth if you hope to get a strike. Pulling the line up through the school from behind will result in snagging fish in the back or tail.

On a 3 hour Tama River fly fishing outing, I landed 43 maruta from 40 to 58 centimeters long. I also caught 4 carp which were following the spawning maruta to feed on their eggs. I was joined by my friend Ramon who met me at the river. There were several anglers on the Kawasaki side, but we had the Tokyo side to ourselves. Even though he is a beginner at fly fishing Ramon managed to land 11 fish.

Ramon kept fishing after I left. Afterwards he claimed that one of the dace that he caught looked bigger than the Japan Game Fishing Association record, a 2 kilogram fish from the Tama River, but because he didn’t know about the record at the time, he released the fish without weighing or measuring it. Ramon may still be a novice when it comes to the catching part of fishing, but he is definitely well on his way to mastering the storytelling part.

Far Eastern dace can also be caught with lures. Six pound (2.7 kg) or eight pound (3.6 kg) class spinning gear is a good choice. While they can be caught on plugs and spinners, spoons get the best results. Use a 5 to 7 gram spoon in silver or some combination of silver. Daiwa Chinook spoons and Daiwa Crusader spoons are good selections. Replace the treble hook with a single hook. Single hooks are less damaging to the fish and are less likely to get hung up on rocks.

The dace is a food fish in China and parts of Europe, but in my opinion, as table fare, the maruta is a fish that is probably best to release. They are extremely boney. If you want to cook dace, some style of deep-frying that will soften the bones such as tatsuda-age would be the way to go.

The breeding season for maruta is March through May. The main part of the Tama River’s spawning run seems to coincide with the blooming of the cherry blossoms. The best fishing spots are from around the Tomei Highway bridge up to the Shukugawara weir. By public transportation the area can be reached from the Nambu Line’s Kuji, Shukugawara, or Noborito Stations, or the Odakyu Line’s Noborito or Izumi-Tamagawa Stations. The river is about a 15 minute walk from the stations. If you are in Tokyo when spring rolls around, give Japan’s poor man’s salmon a try.

This article was written by long-time Tokyo resident and life-long fishing fanatic, Alan Bergman. The images are from his personal collection.

The decision on whether Tokyo will once again be honored as the host city of the Olympics is just a few months away.  On October 2nd, the Olympic bid committee will decide whether Tokyo will be chosen to host the Summer Olympics in 2016.

The Summer Olympics were hosted by Tokyo in 1964 and is still home to a number of the venues that played an integral part in the success of those games.  One of those venues is the National Stadium that now houses The Prince Chichibu Memorial Sports Museum that houses a large collection of Olympic memorabilia and displays that cover the history of the games starting with first Olympiad.

The National Stadium was built in 1958 for the 1964 Olympics and today serves as a venue for soccer and rugby matches.  The Prince Chichibu Memorial Sports Museum opened in 1959 and is dedicated to the memory of Prince Yashuhito Chichibu (1902-1953), commonly referred to as the “Sporting Prince” by the people of Japan, who was a lover of sport and an honorary head of many athletic organizations after WWII.

Exhibits at the museum include the winner’s podium from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, torches, athletic uniforms, tickets, scale models and posters that in combination provide an impressive overview of the history of the Olympic Games.

Yoshinori Sakai was a key figure in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he had the honor of being the final torch bearer and is pictured above lighting the Olympic cauldron.  Today he is active in supporting the Tokyo2106 bid committee.  A little older bit still very fit, he made an appearance at an event I had the pleasure of attending in Tokyo over the weekend.

This time his torch was made of origami flowers, his audience, the adorable students of Fukuda Kindergarten in Hatagaya, and his track much more low key – a small oval around the kindergarten playing field.

In the official interview after the events Sakai-san talked about his memories of the 1964 Games saying that all of Japan had come together to show the world how Japan had succeeded in its economic development, and to promote the message of peace.  He hopes for the same in 2016.  Shibuya246 has posted some more great pictures from this event and was kind enough to translate Sakai-san’s comments for me to use here.

Learn more about Japan’s Olympic history at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Sports Museum.  The museum is located five minutes on foot from Sendagaya Station or two minutes on foot from Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station (Exit A2) in Meiji Jingu Park (access map).  Admission is Y300 and the museum is open daily from 9:30 to 4:30 (closed on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month).

Visit the Japan Olympic Committee website to learn more about Tokyo’s 2016 Olympic bid and join them in “Uniting our Worlds”.

Image Credit:  Wikipedia, Tokyo1964cauldron & personal collection