Thursday, 20 August 2015

AP PHOTOS: Kimono-clad foreigners get a taste of old Tokyo

In this Aug. 1, 2015 photo, Nyrul Ain binti Ahmad Danial of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, right, tries authentic green tea for the first time with other participants during a Japanese tea ceremony at the Kyu Yasuda Garden in Tokyo. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month. Originally part of a samurai residence in the 1600's, the garden, which is now free of admission, was donated by the Yasuda family, to the city of Tokyo in 1922.
In this Aug. 1, 2015 photo, Nyrul Ain binti Ahmad Danial of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, right, tries authentic green tea for the first time with other participants during a Japanese tea ceremony at the Kyu Yasuda Garden in Tokyo. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month. Originally part of a samurai residence in the 1600's, the garden, which is now free of admission, was donated by the Yasuda family, to the city of Tokyo in 1922. 
 
In this Aug. 1, 2015 photo, a foreign couple check photos in front of a sumo mural at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, Japan's national sumo stadium in Tokyo. The stadium holds three of the six official sumo tournaments each year. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
In this Aug. 1, 2015 photo, a foreign couple check photos in front of a sumo mural at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, Japan's national sumo stadium in Tokyo. The stadium holds three of the six official sumo tournaments each year. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.   
In this Aug. 1, 2015 photo, Taiwanese participants try to buy bottles of Japanese soda from a local vendor at the Kyu Yasuda Garden in Tokyo. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
In this Aug. 1, 2015 photo, Taiwanese participants try to buy bottles of Japanese soda from a local vendor at the Kyu Yasuda Garden in Tokyo. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.  
In this Aug. 1, 2015 photo, a group of foreigners in yukata, or casual summer kimono, visit the Kyu Yasuda Garden in Tokyo. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
In this Aug. 1, 2015 photo, a group of foreigners in yukata, or casual summer kimono, visit the Kyu Yasuda Garden in Tokyo. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.     
In this Aug. 1, 2015 photo, Reko Dida of Korce, Albania, dances the traditional Japanese "bon odori" with locals at Tokyo's street festival. During the "bon" season in the summer, when Japanese Buddhists honor the spirits of their ancestors, a number of street festivals, like this one, take place all over Japan. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
In this Aug. 1, 2015 photo, Reko Dida of Korce, Albania, dances the traditional Japanese "bon odori" with locals at Tokyo's street festival. During the "bon" season in the summer, when Japanese Buddhists honor the spirits of their ancestors, a number of street festivals, like this one, take place all over Japan. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.  
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Polina Algezina of St. Petersburg, Russia, tries a yukata, or casual summer kimono, for the first time with help from a Japanese volunteer in Tokyo. More than 80 foreigners wearing yukatas participated in a six-hour walking tour of the Sumida district, Tokyo's old neighborhood.
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Polina Algezina of St. Petersburg, Russia, tries a yukata, or casual summer kimono, for the first time with help from a Japanese volunteer in Tokyo. More than 80 foreigners wearing yukatas participated in a six-hour walking tour of the Sumida district, Tokyo's old neighborhood.   
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Jonida Koli of Tirana, Albania, left, takes a picture of another participant on a Sumida River cruise in Tokyo. The 25-kilometer (15 mile) river cuts through Tokyo's old neighborhoods and flows into the Tokyo Bay. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Jonida Koli of Tirana, Albania, left, takes a picture of another participant on a Sumida River cruise in Tokyo. The 25-kilometer (15 mile) river cuts through Tokyo's old neighborhoods and flows into the Tokyo Bay. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month. 
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Taiwanese participants take photos in front of a sumo mural at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, Japan's national sumo stadium in Tokyo. The stadium holds three of the six official sumo tournaments each year. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Taiwanese participants take photos in front of a sumo mural at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, Japan's national sumo stadium in Tokyo. The stadium holds three of the six official sumo tournaments each year. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month. 
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Polina Algezina of St. Petersburg, Russia, tries yukata, or casual summer kimono, for the first time as a Japanese volunteer fixes her belt in Tokyo. More than 80 foreigners wearing yukatas participated in a six-hour walking tour of the Sumida district, Tokyo's old neighborhood.
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Polina Algezina of St. Petersburg, Russia, tries yukata, or casual summer kimono, for the first time as a Japanese volunteer fixes her belt in Tokyo. More than 80 foreigners wearing yukatas participated in a six-hour walking tour of the Sumida district, Tokyo's old neighborhood.   
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, a group of foreigners take a tour of the Ryogoku Kokugikan, Japan's national sumo stadium in Tokyo as a clerk sweeps the sumo ring. The stadium can seat more than 10,000 people and holds three of the six official sumo tournaments each year. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, a group of foreigners take a tour of the Ryogoku Kokugikan, Japan's national sumo stadium in Tokyo as a clerk sweeps the sumo ring. The stadium can seat more than 10,000 people and holds three of the six official sumo tournaments each year. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.    
In this Aug. 1, 2015 photo, Polina Algezina of St. Petersburg, Russia, left, and Mabeo Oabile of Gaborone, Botswana, right, admire the Kyu Yasuda Garden in Tokyo. Originally part of a samurai residence in 1600s, the garden, which is now free of admission, was donated by the Yasuda family, to the city of Tokyo in 1922. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
In this Aug. 1, 2015 photo, Polina Algezina of St. Petersburg, Russia, left, and Mabeo Oabile of Gaborone, Botswana, right, admire the Kyu Yasuda Garden in Tokyo. Originally part of a samurai residence in 1600s, the garden, which is now free of admission, was donated by the Yasuda family, to the city of Tokyo in 1922. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.  
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, foreign participants dance the traditional Japanese "bon odori" with locals in Tokyo. During the "bon" season in the summer, when Japanese Buddhists honor the return of their ancestors' spirits, a number of street festivals, like this one, take place all over Japan. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, foreign participants dance the traditional Japanese "bon odori" with locals in Tokyo. During the "bon" season in the summer, when Japanese Buddhists honor the return of their ancestors' spirits, a number of street festivals, like this one, take place all over Japan. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.  
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Hazwan Aizat bin Noordin of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, center, takes a stroll with his wife and four-year-old daughter at the Kyu Yasuda Garden in Tokyo. Originally part of a samurai residence in the 1600's, the garden, which is now free of admission, was donated by the Yasuda family, to the city of Tokyo in 1922. More than 80 foreigners wearing summer kimonos participated in a six-hour walking tour of the Sumida district, Tokyo's old neighborhood.
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Hazwan Aizat bin Noordin of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, center, takes a stroll with his wife and four-year-old daughter at the Kyu Yasuda Garden in Tokyo. Originally part of a samurai residence in the 1600's, the garden, which is now free of admission, was donated by the Yasuda family, to the city of Tokyo in 1922. More than 80 foreigners wearing summer kimonos participated in a six-hour walking tour of the Sumida district, Tokyo's old neighborhood.   
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Polina Algezina of St. Petersburg, Russia, center, dances the traditional Japanese "bon odori," holding a traditional Japanese hat, with locals in Tokyo. During the "bon" season in the summer, when Japanese Buddhists honor the return of their ancestors' spirits, a number of street festivals, like this one, take place all over Japan. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Polina Algezina of St. Petersburg, Russia, center, dances the traditional Japanese "bon odori," holding a traditional Japanese hat, with locals in Tokyo. During the "bon" season in the summer, when Japanese Buddhists honor the return of their ancestors' spirits, a number of street festivals, like this one, take place all over Japan. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month. 
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Elisa Azman of Penang, Malaysia, admires a view of Tokyo from a Sumida River cruise in Tokyo. The 25-kilometer (15 miles) river cuts through Tokyo's old neighborhoods and flows into the Tokyo Bay. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, Elisa Azman of Penang, Malaysia, admires a view of Tokyo from a Sumida River cruise in Tokyo. The 25-kilometer (15 miles) river cuts through Tokyo's old neighborhoods and flows into the Tokyo Bay. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month. 
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, foreign participants dance the traditional Japanese "bon odori" with locals in Tokyo. During the "bon" season in the summer, when Japanese Buddhists honor the return of their ancestors' spirits, a number of street festivals, like this one, take place all over Japan. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
In this Aug. 1, 2015, photo, foreign participants dance the traditional Japanese "bon odori" with locals in Tokyo. During the "bon" season in the summer, when Japanese Buddhists honor the return of their ancestors' spirits, a number of street festivals, like this one, take place all over Japan. With some help from Japanese volunteers, more than 80 foreigners from around the world, including the United States, Russia and Malaysia, donned casual summer kimonos called “yukata” for a stroll around old Tokyo earlier this month.
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