Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:11:20 +0900 hourly 1 /release/201207235853 Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:00:39 +0900 ARIGATO in LONDON - "Nakata" Expresses "Nippon" Culture from "N Bar" - Hidetoshi Nakata, a member of the Executive Committee of "ARIGATO in LONDON" and also known as a former national football player ... TOKYO, July 24/KYODO JBN/--
- "Nakata" Expresses "Nippon" Culture from "N Bar" -

Hidetoshi Nakata, a member of the Executive Committee of "ARIGATO in LONDON" and also known as a former national football player who once played in the Italian Serie A and the English Premier League, has produced "N Bar" at London County Hall to express his gratitude for worldwide support to Japan after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Nakata promptly operated charity football matches in Asia and the EU and a number of charitable events for children in Tohoku after the disaster. He has been traveling around Japan to rediscover and promote the greatest Japanese cultures to the world.

"I am very excited to introduce one of the greatest Japanese cultures, sake, to a number of people gathering in London from all over the world. Because of the recent Japanese food boom, I have realized people start acknowledging more about sake. I believe the sake bar provides a great opportunity to let people enjoy various kinds of sake. It would be great if all of you have become a fan of Japan through the experience of 'N Bar'," says Nakata.

In cooperation with Hasegawasaketen Inc., an official distributor of Japanese sake at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, five major sake breweries including Niizawa Sake Brewing from Miyagi prefecture, who have suffered the earthquake, have voluntary joined the project and will serve 26 kinds of sake at "N Bar".

Nakata will attend an opening ceremony on July 28 at 12:45 p.m. in front of the bar at London County Hall and will visit "N Bar" sometimes during the operation period to introduce the greatest Japanese culture, sake, by himself.

You are cordially invited to the very special and stylish "N Bar" open along the River Thames for a limited time only.


About "N Bar"
Duration:      July 28 - August 11
Open hours:  11 a.m. - 7p.m.
Menu:           26 kinds of sake (7-10 British pounds)

ARIGATO in LONDON official website
http://arigato-in-london.jp/eng/

Hidetoshi Nakata official website
http://nakata.net/
Source:
  ARIGATO in LONDON Executive Committee
[Related URL]
http://arigato-in-london.jp/eng/
]]> /release/201207055473 Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:00:34 +0900 ARIGATO in LONDON "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 ... TOKYO, July 5/KYODO JBN/--
"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
Source:
  ARIGATO in LONDON Executive Committee
[Related URL]
http://arigato-in-london.jp/eng/
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