"ARIGATO in LONDON," an event to show Japan's gratitude for the worldwide help, assistance and courage given after the Great East Japan Earthquake and also to show how Japan is recovering from the disaster, will be held for 15 days from July 28 to August 11, 2012, at London County Hall.

During the event, a video will be shown to express "arigato" (meaning "thank you" in Japanese) in 83 languages toward the 163 countries and regions that offered to help after the disaster. Also a photo exhibition showing Japan working toward reconstruction will be held in cooperation with the Recovery Assistance Media Team and photographer Shinichi Sato.

Furthermore, on the terrace stage of County Hall, there will be, from time to time, traditional Japanese cultural performances such as Japanese dance, shamisen (three-stringed lute) and taiko (drum).

Community festival games such as ring toss and yo-yo fishing, reminiscent of the festivity of Japan's fete days, will be demonstrated. Handicrafts from across Japan will be put on sale and a sake bar will be opened in an effort to communicate Japanese culture to the rest of the world.

At an opening ceremony to be held at 12:00 a.m. on July 28, 2012, Executive Committee members Junko Koshino, designer, Hidetoshi Nakata, etc., will be present to talk about "ARIGATO in LONDON."

For details, please visit our website (http://arigato-in-london.jp/eng/).

-- About "ARIGATO in LONDON"

Date: July 28 to August 11, 2012

Venue: London County Hall

-- Executive Committee members:

Tadao Ando, architect

Junko Koshino, designer

Keisuke Sano, chairman, Japan Association in the UK

Naoko Takahashi, sportscaster, gold medalist of women's marathon at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney

Dai Tamesue, former Olympics track and field athlete

Hidetoshi Nakata, representative director of Take Action Foundation

Takaaki Hanaoka, Secretary General, Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry in the UK

Takeo Hirata, professor, Graduate School of Sports Sciences, Waseda University

--Supporters:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan

Japan Tourism Agency

Japan National Tourism Organization

Iwate, Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectural Governments

Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry in the UK

Japan Association to the UK