'austraLasia' # 36

JAPAN: THE GOOD NEWS AND THE BAD

Achille Loro Piana

FIRST THE BAD ...

TOKYO, 20th January 1998: On Monday 19 at 3:30 p.m. fire destroyed

the hostel that the FMA sisters run in Beppu (Oita Prefecture).

Fortunately none of the 31 girls living there were hurt. Probably a short circuit

was the cause of the fire which destroyed the old wooden building but

did not spread to the school.

THEN THE GOOD ...

On Thursday 20th the Japanese Imperial Household Agency has

announced that Princess Norinomya, daughter of Emperor

Akihito will honour with her presence the charity concert

organized by the DBVG (Don Bosco Overseas Young Volunteer

Group) on March 27 in the prestigious Orchard Hall of Shibuya

(Tokyo). Famous actor Tatsumi Takuro will M.C. the show

which will feature virtuoso violinist Iwao Furusawa and flautist

Hiroki Togi. Tenor Shigehiro Sano will come for the occasion

from Italy, where he is living, and top dancer Tetsuya Kumagawa, the

only japanese member of the London Royal Ballet will come from

England. The show will take place also on March 28 and almost all of

the 4500 tickets have been sold out in just three days. At the end, Don

Cimatti's Ave Maria will conclude the event. The profit will be used for

projects the DBVG ishelping in the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Cambodia.

Everybody invited.