Hello from Michi no Eki Aso!
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay has started in Japan.
The torch departed from Fukushima prefecture and finally, it reached Kumamoto on 5 May. The weather was perfect in Aso and I went around Aso shrine by bike.
Here in Aso, the torch relay was held on 6 May and the torch was carried by 12 torchbearers for a 1.8km long trip around Aso shrine in Aso city.
In southern Aso, the relay was also held over the brand new bridge called “ShinAsoōhashi”(新阿蘇大橋) that broke down completely in the 2016 earthquake and has been rebuild recently.
You may know in Japanese, Shin(新) is new, when you describe something big we use Ō(大), and Hashi(橋) is bridge ♪
Watching the torch relay in Aso might be a once in a lifetime experience for us!
I was lucky to see the torchbearers in Aso on that day and there were many locals present.
Throughout the relay, we received a lot of smiles from the torchbearers.
After the relay there was a small celebration that welcomed the last torchbearer Katsumasa Shodai san, who is a part of the large family of the Aso shrine.
In his speech, he explained about the current situation of Aso shrine and we heard it should entirely recover by 2023. He was relieved that he reached the goal point, at Aso shrine, a place of importance in his life.
（This photo was taken before the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake)
We were happy to watch the relay in Aso and we would like to show you how amazing living in Aso is!
Kirara
