Despite the sad irony of the title, given the events of the last few days, Happy Earth Day Osaka 2011 will go ahead as planned.
The event, which will be held at Kyuhoji Ryokuchi Park on March 26 and 27, is organized by students and will feature corporate- and NGO-sponsored booths, concerts, workshops, sports events, talk shows and an art exhibition all on the themes of protecting the Earth, peace and human rights.
"The important thing is to feel happiness," Happy Earth Day Osaka 2011 director Mitsuru Nakamura writes on the event website. "Meeting people with a diversity of beliefs and cultural backgrounds, and being accepting of each other — that can help us solve all sorts of problems, not just related to the environment."
Exhibitors include cafes and restaurants offering health-conscious foods, such as organically produced udon noodles and additive-free doughnuts.
Sporting events will include a 22-km relay marathon and a jump-rope competition for teams of eight.
As with many events that are planned throughout the country this weekend, the organizers of Happy Earth Day Osaka 2011 will provide a collection box so that visitors can donate to funds for victims of the Tohoku-Kanto earthquake. Stall operators at the event are also being asked to donate a percentage of proceeds from the event to the funds.
Happy Earth Day Osaka 2011 will be held March 26 and 27 at Kyuhoji Ryokuchi Park in Yao City, Osaka. For more details, visit www.happy-earthday-osaka.jp.
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