Photo= A Maiko, carrying her own water bottle to receive "Kyoto Eco Money," smiles at the store clerk (September 29, Kyoto City Subway Line's Shijo Station, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto)

An event to promote the local currency "Kyoto Eco Money" that people can receive through reducing waste in environment-friendly systems was held in Kyoto City Subway Line's Shijo Station in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, on September 29. A "Maiko," or apprentice geisha, brought an empty bottle into a restaurant with her when buying a drink to promote the use of their own bottles to shoppers, saying in a distinctive geisha accent, "Kankyo ni yasashikute otoku dosue," or the use of "My Bottle" is eco-friendly and saves you money.

Kyoto City planned this event before the October 1 start of an eco-friendly system where people receive "Kyoto Eco Money" by bringing their used clothing to designated clothing stores. People can get one point per kilogram of clothing items at 13 clothing stores in Kyoto City, and exchange 10 points for 500 yen worth of merchandise such as vegetables, a prepaid traffic card called "Traffica Kyoto Card" and other items. Another eco-friendly system, in which people can receive "Kyoto Eco Money" by bringing their own bottles to restaurants, has already been underway since August.

Katsutomo, a Maiko in Gion Kobu, visited a doughnut store inside the station that is cooperating with the system, showed her own water bottle to the store staff when ordering her drink, and then received a stamp on her eco money card. She took a drink from her drink bottle and smiled, saying in a distinctive geisha accent, "Kakubetsuna aji dosu," or the taste is superb.