Among the many initiatives supporting the Japanese people, badly hit by the earthquake last month, it’s certainly noteworthy the one led by some of the most famous Japanese (and not only) character designers, who joined together for the project “Holding Hands”.
The aim of the project, as well as raise funds for the International Red Cross, is to bring a smile on the faces of the survivors of the catastrophe and the whole Japanese people, especially children. To do so, they have put on the field some of the most famous and beloved characters from Rilakkuma to Domokun, from Miffy to Elmo. All together, they have created an illustration that we can call “memorable”: a lot of characters joined together in a chain of friendship and solidarity.
Tsuneo Goda and Aki Kondo, respectively Domokun and Rilakkuma creators and main promoters of the project, are hoping that the initiative will bring some hope to all those children who are facing the difficult situation after the earthquake, the same kids that probably fled from their homes clutching a stuffed toy of one of the characters they have created.
The image of “Holding Hands” project is freely downloadable from the website http://www.teotsunago.com in various formats. The authors themselves are encouraging the spread, so that the picture can be seen by as much children as possible! It’s really a good initiative, isn’t it? Too bad that, at least for the moment, no author from Sanrio joined the group. It would be so great to see Hello Kitty hand in hand with Rilakkuma!