The 18th Nigiwai Festival Ryogoku was an event aimed at revitalizing the Ryogoku area by providing and communicating information on the history and culture of Ryogoku. For example, Ryogoku is known as the birthplace of sumo, and as a center for the manufacture of knitted fabric and toys. When you think of sumo culture you think of “chanko nabe,” the staple sumo dish. The festival boasted a popular “Chanko Museum” attraction allowing visitors to taste and compare different versions of chanko. The festival also offered stalls selling hats, clothes and accessories in a nod to the area’s reputation as a center for knitted fabric manufacturing. To reflect the area’s standing as a toy manufacturing center, festival organizers held “workshops” in which visitors could assemble model trains, and also set up a “corporate PR booth” where local companies could promote their businesses.