Over a period of five days, the Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta held Memorial ceremonies for victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake. 193 guests signed our memorial book over the period, and on March 9, the final day of the event, 84 invitees as well as 27 Consulate staff prayed for the victims of the disaster.
    Following the silent prayer ceremony, President of YKK USA Alex Gregory, Japan-America Society of Georgia President Day Lancaster, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia President Hideo Takada, and Consul General Hanatani each painted an eye on a Daruma doll, wishing for the quick recovery of the disaster-stricken Tohoku region. A year from now, the dolls may be used in Consulate activities and displays.
    In addition, the Consulate also received the messages of hope and well-wishing for victims of the disaster from President Jimmy Carter, Georgia state representative Tom Taylor, "Pray for Japan" film directory Stu Levy, and countless Japanese citizens living within our jurisdiction.
    Furthermore, we received messages from more than 5,000 individuals within our office's five-state jurisdiction, that they engaged in silent prayer on the one-year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami.