- Title: JAPAN: Santas draw rickshaws in downtown Tokyo
- Date: 4th December 2009
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 3, 2009) (REUTERS) SANTA-CLAD RICKSHAW DRIVERS PREPARING FOR RIDES GUEST PASSENGERS GETTING INTO RICKSHAW SANTA GETTING READY FOR DEPARTURE RICKSHAWS DRAWN BY SANTAS LEAVE AS PASSENGERS WAVE TO ON-LOOKERS SANTA RICKSHAWS ON ROAD, MOVING ALONG WITH TRAFFIC VARIOUS OF SANTA RICKSHAWS ON ROAD SANTA RICKSHAWS ARRIVE AT HOTEL (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) RICKSHAW PASSENGER, 48, IZUMI TOMITA, SAYING: "It was awesome. This is an out-of-ordinary experience." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) RICKSHAW PASSENGER, 32, NAOMI SATO, SAYING: "I think this was a nice combination of Japanese and Western values for Christmas." PASSENGERS EXITING RICKSHAW
- Embargoed: 19th December 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVADU1YUODMCINM65R5FPBG8Y06A
- Story Text: When Santa doesn't have his reindeers, what would he do? Forget the reindeers. This Christmas season, Santas are doing the work.
Rickshaw drivers clad in Santa Claus outfits defied the rain on Thursday (December 3) to carry passengers in the traditional two-wheeled carts in downtown Tokyo.
The six Santas rickshaw drivers peddled around to pamper some 40 female passengers invited by international firm Smart Co, which sells gift catalogues and vouchers.
"It was awesome. This is an out-of-ordinary experience," said Izumi Tomita, 48, one of the passengers, after her 2-kilometre rickshaw ride.
Another passenger, 32-year-old Naomi Sato said: "I think this was a nice combination of Japanese and Western values for Christmas."
Upon the rickshaws' arrival at a Tokyo hotel, the guests were further pampered with yoga and massages. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
