VISIT JAPAN YEAR 2010
-Visit Japan Next Year!-

JNTO, Japan National Tourism Organization, kicked off their VISIT JAPAN YEAR 2010”campaign with an invitation-only party at The Grove shopping mall in Los Angeles. This event is a part of their efforts to bring in ten million people to visit Japan by the year 2010. However, with the dwindling economy, the strong yen rate and the H1N1 influenza scare, JNTO is far from reaching their goal. They invited 300 of The Grove’s platinum members, meaning each spent at least twenty-thousand-dollars last year at the mall. JNTO says that it is becoming a trend for the wealthy to spend money on culturally rich vacations. JNTO is holding an essay/photo contest for those interested in visiting Japan next year.

Three Apples
-Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Hello Kitty-

Come see a futuristic Hello Kitty or a Mona Lisa-based Hello Kitty at “Three Apples,” an exhibition at Royal/T, a café in Culver City dedicated to Sanrio’s Hello Kitty. This exhibit is part of the 35th anniversary of Hello Kitty’s birth. “Three Apples” kicked off with a party on October 22, 2009. Among the Hello Kitty fans were celebrities such as designer Kimora Lee Simmons and Paris Hilton, both showing off Hello Kitty earrings and other accessories. Musician YOSHIKI from Japanese rock band X JAPAN was also there to promote “yoshikitty,”a character created by crossing Hello Kitty with the rock star. The exhibit has a display dedicated to yoshitty, as well as the newest and vintage Hello Kitty goods. Besides the Hello Kitty collectibles, is an art exhibit with interpretations of Hello Kitty by over eighty artists who interpreted Hello Kitty. This exhibit which is free and open to the public, runs until November 15, 2009.