Annual Rafting Race in Komae slated for July 21

Komae Ancient Cup/ Tamagawa Rafting Race

(photo credit: The Planning Committee of the “Komae Ancient Cup/29th Tamagawa Rafting Race)

The Planning Committee of the “Komae Ancient Cup/29th Tamagawa Rafting Race” is now recruiting participants for the annual 1.3 kilometer race on Tamagawa River of July 21.

The rafting race has been an annual event in Komae city, a neighbor of Chofu, in western part of Tokyo, since it was started in 1990 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the city’s municipal administration.

The race will be carried out in two categories as hand-made rafts will contest for the speed of rafting 1.3 kilometers from the Tamagawa Gohonmatsu point totheNikaryo-Shukugawara-Seki point and also for excellence in design of rafts. In 2018, a total of 87 teams participated. One team had participated in the event for 25 times, a record for all.

Rafts should be originally made and generated by human power on oars etc. and rubber boats or engines are now accepted. Any man or women, older than 10 years old or the fourth grader of primary school, who can swim. One team should consist of 3 to 5 people. If a team has a primary school student as a member, it has to have more than two adult members. the team, can

Mr. Kobayashi, the secretary for the Planning Committee and also Komae city staffer in charge of local activity promotion at the Local Activity Section of theCitizen's Life Department of Komae Ciyt Hall, says: “Komae Ancient Cup/Tamagawa Rafting Race on Tamagawa (Tama River) is now the city’s seasonal tradition of summer, attended by nearly 10,000 visitors every year. I hope many people from various local communities will participate and make the event successful.”

Hopeful participants should sign up before the deadline of May 31. The event organizers will close it as soon as they get 100 teams. The participating fee will be 10,000 yen per team.

(Adapted from Chofu Keizai Shimbun, with permission)