Sumida River the oldest and most famous firework displays in Japan, are launched from barges across the river, between Ryōgoku and Asakusa during Summer, a festival is also held at the same time. The poet Matsuo Bashō lived by the Sumida River, alongside the famous banana tree (Japanese: bashō) from which he takes his nom de plume. The Sumida River appears in a haiku by Issa from 1820: "spring peace--a mouse licking upSumida River" The Sumida runs through Tokyo for 27 kilometers, under 26 bridges spaced at about one bridge per kilometer. Amongst these, the principal ones are: Sumida River The is
Alan Arakawa Union Representative. In 1994, Arakawa first ran for office to become a member of Maui's county council. He won and was reelected in 1996 and 2000. He served as Chair of the Planning, Parks and Land Use committees during his tenure. Arakawa also was one of the members who spearheaded a movement to create nonpartisan elections for Maui County government seats. In November 2002, Arakawa was elected in a nonpartisan race for county mayor. Arakawa is married to Ann Arakawa, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Hawaii Maui College. They have two daughters, Jan and Jodi. In 2006,