2011 FISA World Rowing Tour at Lake Biwa, Japan
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Ground crew in yellow take a break.
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Lunch on the boat.
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Silent outboard motor and the pilot.
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Shiga has been pursuing a reed expansion program to increase reed fields around Lake Biwa and in attached lakes. The reeds help to clean the water and also provides refuge for fish and birds.
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Smaller groups can ride hand-powered boats.
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The boat ride passes by rape blossoms, and in April, cherry blossoms.
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Leaving the Scenic Water Channel boat pier.
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Leaving the Scenic Water Channel boat pier.
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Heading to Hotel Laforet in Moriyama.
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Beach in front of Hotel Laforet in Moriyama is the day's final stop.
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June 11, 2011 (Day 8): The final day of rowing. This is the beach in front of Hotel Laforet in Moriyama.
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Captain's meeting.
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The Biwako Ohashi Bridge is the largest bridge in Shiga, linking Moriyama and Katata at the neck of Lake Biwa's panhandle.
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Approaching Biwako Ohashi Bridge.
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Rowing under Biwako Ohashi Bridge.
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View from Biwako Ohashi Bridge as the boats row south to Otsu.
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The rowers probably didn't notice, but Ukimido temple is seen on the right. The iconic temple is over the water on stilts. More Ukimido photos here.
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The landscape becomes quite urban as they approach Otsu, Shiga's capital city.
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Rowing off central Otsu.
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The tall building is Otsu Prince Hotel. Japan's Prince Hotel chain has Shiga roots as the company founder was from Shiga.
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Rowing past Otsu Prince Hotel.
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On the right is the German restaurant, called "Würzburg." Würzburg in Germany is Otsu's sister city.
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Further south is the Omi Ohashi Bridge, smaller than the Biwako Ohashi Bridge.
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Approaching the Omi Ohashi Bridge.
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Mouth of Seta River straight ahead, as seen from Omi Ohashi Bridge.
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Shots from Omi Ohashi Bridge.
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Students from Otsu High School and Shiga University greet and cheer on the rowers from FISA. 大津高、滋賀大経済学部、滋賀大教育学部の部員たち
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This part of Seta River has numerous rowing club houses, most are affiliated with universities.
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Seta River at Lake Biwa's southern tip is the lake's sole outflowing river. All other rivers flow into the lake.
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Heading Seta River marked by a series of bridges.
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Approaching Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge, a historic landmark although the bridge has been rebuilt a few times.
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The original Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge was one of the Omi Hakkei (Eight Views of Omi) made famous by Hiroshige's woodblock prints. (Omi is Shiga's old name.)
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The large bridge is the Meishin Expressway for cars linking Nagoya and Kobe.
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Setagawa River boat cruise modeled after the Ichiban-Maru paddlewheel steamboat which cruised on Lake Biwa in the 19th century.
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Seta River becomes more quiet and scenic downriver.
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Passing by Ishiyama-dera temple along the Seta River. The temple has National Treasure buildings. Also famous as the place where Lady Murasaki wrote the famous novel, Tale of Genji.
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Rowers make a U-turn here on Seta River.
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In the background is the bridge for the shinkansen bullet train. People traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto by train will pass through Shiga.
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Rowing past the rowing club of Ritsumeikan University.
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Rowing past the rowing club of Ryukoku University, based in Kyoto.
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Rowing past the rowing club of Ritsumeikan University.
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Rowing past the rowing club of Kyoto University. One of the eight boats used for the rowing tour was borrowed this club. Their new members row around the southern half of Lake Biwa in Aug.
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Rowing past the rowing club of Ryukoku University, based in Kyoto.
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Rowing under Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge again on the way out.
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Rowing under the railway bridge for the JR Tokaido Line on the way out.
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Rowing past Zeze Castle Park.
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Otsu Prince Hotel and Omi Ohashi Bridge in the background.
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Lake Biwa Rowing Course operated by Shiga Prefecture for major rowing regattas. Seven of the eight boats used for the rowing tour were borrowed from this facility. It is near the head of Seta River, and near Seta Rowing Club.
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Heading for Seta Rowing Club.
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Staff telling rowers to turn right.
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Turning right.
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Staff person directing rowers to the small canal leading to the Seta Rowing Club.
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Staff directing rowers to the small canal leading to the Seta Rowing Club.
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A-OK!
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Welcome back!
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Small canal to Seta Rowing Club.
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Seta Rowing Club's pier.
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Seta Rowing Club await the returning boats.
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At Seta Rowing Club. The rowers went back to the hotel to freshen up for the farewell party in the evening.
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Later in the evening (still June 11, 2011), a Farewell party was held at Seta Rowing Club. I attended and took these pictures and videos.
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Farewell party at Seta Rowing Club. They first showed the video I took on June 9 when they rowed from Nagahama to Hikone.
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Motoki Kyo, chairman of the Seta Rowing Club, is the MC.
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Jens Chr. Kolberg from FISA conducted the closing ceremony.
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Seta Rowing Club members and host stand in front to accept thanks and messages.
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Participants from each country came up and gave thanks or sang a song.
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They also gave gifts to the Seta Rowing Club. I have more photos and videos of everyone else. Rowers should receive them on disc etc., from Seta Rowing Club.
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This FISA flag has flown at all the World Rowing Tours. It was time to fold it up and give it to the host of next year's FISA World Rowing Tour.
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The FISA flag is given to the Canadian host of next year's FISA World Rowing Tour.
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A Japanese tradition of smashing open a barrel of sake or rice wine. The stack of square wooden cups on the right emblazoned with "FISA World Rowing Tour in Biwako" was also given as a souvenir to the rowers.
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Buffet of sushi, sandwiches, etc.
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Goshu Ondo folk dance native to Shiga was performed.
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And everyone formed a circle and danced. All the rowers who came to Japan were very happy that they decided to come. They all had an unforgettable experience. It's too bad there were many people who canceled their trip. They really missed out...
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And who knows when another FISA World Rowing Tour will be held again in Japan. Not anytime soon as there are many other significant countries in Asia.
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"Tell your friends back home that JAPAN IS FINE!!" says Masaki Unose, tour director. Shiga was totally safe from any radiation. I was disappointed in Shiga's tourism bureau and other organizations which failed to assert that Shiga was safe
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Farewell, and thank you everyone for visiting Japan and Shiga Prefecture. We are all happy you had a great time here. Hope you visit again because we have a lot more than just Lake Biwa, Enryakuji, and Hikone Castle. And spread the word about Shiga.
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