NEBUTA NO IE – WA RASSE 090428 site visit
Travelled to Aomori on the 27th at night for the weekly meeting on the 28th.
On the Tuesday the 28th the newly installed Mayor (in function since the 24th) of Aomori Mr Shikanai (61) arrived at 9:30 for a quick site visit. In general terms the project was explained to him. Mr Shikanai had won the recent election, defeating incumbent mayor Mr Sasaki (71) who had been the this position for a steady 20 years, as an independent on a platform to review all large projects. The Aomori election outcome was one of the big surprises of all the local elections taking place in 19 cities all over Japan and was even mentioned in the Japan Times.
The site was in pristine condition ready for the construction. Some small issues remained with some remaining foundation concrete and piles of previous buildings. Some would be removed in the next days some piles that were not in the way would be left.
Japan Times 2009-04-21
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090421a7.html