Sat, Nov 21 2009

Prime Minister Boiko Borissov breaks bucket of sake in two blows at metro inauguration

Tue, Sep 08 2009 15:34 CET byThe Sofia Echo staff 1603 Views 1 Comment
Prime Minister Boiko Borissov breaks bucket of sake in two blows at metro inauguration

Photo: Anelia Nikolova

Prime Minister Boiko Borissov breaks bucket of sake in two blows at metro inauguration

Photo: Anelia Nikolova

Prime Minister Boiko Borissov breaks bucket of sake in two blows at metro inauguration

Photo: Anelia Nikolova

Prime Minister Boiko Borissov proved too large for a traditional Japanese kimono and too impatient to wait for the signal at the start of a traditional Japanese ritual marking the opening of the newest section of Sofia Metro.

Borissov, Cabinet ministers, Japanese ambassador Tsuneharu Takeda, Sofia interim mayor Minko Gerdjikov and Taisei Corporation officials took part in the inauguration ceremony of the new line. The latest section of the metro connects the eastern Mladost suburbs with the western boroughs of Lyulin, spanning from Sveta Nedelia (St Sunday) square to the national football ground Vassil Levski.

Funding for the section was provided by the Japanese government and was carried out by Japanese Taisei Corporation.

After the ribbon-cutting, Borissov was asked to take part in a traditional Japanese ritual, Bulgarian-language Dnevnik daily said.

All those present were handed out kimonos. Borissov's one proved too tight but, nevertheless he put it on, Dnevnik said.

According to the ritual, Borissov and the other officials had to jointly break a wooden bucket full of sake using wooden hammers. This had to be done simultaneously on a signal.

However, according to Dnevnik, Borissov did not wait for the signal and broke the bucket himself with two blows.

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Anonymous Adam Wed, Sep 09 2009 09:19 CET
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