EVENT HISTORY

　On Thursday, February 15, 2024, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB) co-hosted the FY2023 Unique Venues Showcase Event at two unique venue facilities - Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena and Sumida Aquarium in the Tokyo Skytree Town®.

　

　At Kokugikan, the venue was divided into two areas of "presentation" and "exhibition". In the presentation area, a talk session titled "Sumida City and its tourist attractions" was held where four panelists including the chairperson from Sumida City Tourism Association lectured on the topic. In the exhibition area, with participation by Sumo wrestlers, a variety of events was held including a special performance by AR (augmented reality), a hands-on spot experiment of a high-speed tracking and mapping system, introduction of products that have been certified by the Sumida City's Sumida Modern regional brand strategy that will be used as incentives, and cooking and serving of Chanko-nabe hot-pot in collaboration with members of the Japan Sumo Association.

　

　The participants then traveled to the Sumida Aquarium on a private shuttle bus, or a cruise boat that departs from the Ryogoku River Center located adjacent to the Kokugikan arena.

　

　At the Sumida Aquarium, participants enjoyed a special "night aquarium" experience, including ambience lighting that differed from regular business hours and a performance by a local symphony orchestra.
　What's more, a unique buffet was arranged as a place for networking by participants. At the dining area, meals made by local restaurants and cafés that specialize in using "Edo-Tokyo vegetables" - traditional vegetables passed down from the Edo period (1608-1868) and are still grown in the Tokyo region - were served, edible tableware such as "Mog Cup" and "e-tray" were used, and multi-lingual signs of food ingredients showing allergen information and religious considerations such as Halal were provided next to the dishes served.
　We have a long-accumulated expertise that can be used for organizing an event, including procedures for application filing, and precautions to take when setting up an event. If you are interested in hosting an event at the Kokugikan National Sumo Arena, Sumida Aquarium, or one of the Unique Venues facilities, don't hesitate to contact us at Tokyo Unique Venues.

【Event Overview】
　Date: February 15, 2024
　Note: Recordings of this event can be viewed on YouTube.