The show must go on

Takashi Yanase was once a hungry soldier. In his dreams he would fantasize about eating 'anpan', a bread roll filled with bean paste. Later in more peaceful and civilized times these dreams became realized as 'anpanman' became a children's story character in books and on television. He fights for justice and allows the hungry to feed on his head. Once his head is eaten from to much the eyes becomes crosses and it detaches and flies off. Uncle Jam the friendly baker always has more heads baked just waiting and so a new head flies in to replace it.

Even without wars children are hungry across the world and where anpanman can't be real for them at least we as responsible and caring people can try to offer them a helping hand in some many ways and a gift of food. In many nations there are full freezers and food stores and the most dreadful thing is the amount of food we in those nations waste. Many of us worry about paying for our homes and cars and our jobs with todays global financial problem.

Many others wonder where the next meal comes from or if they'll ever learn to read and write and some Mothers wonder if their babies would survive to five years of age. Save the Children is a truly caring charity that crosses national and cultural borders with one goal. To change the 'wrongs' that affect children everywhere. From the hungry, the sick, the exploited and the abused.

The event was a fantastic success with quite a lot of tickets sold and the hall was pretty full for both of the shows on both Saturday and Sunday. A lot of money was raised, the audiences appeared to have a great time and so did everyone backstage, the organizers, the actors, the dancers, all the different assistants. So many smiles everywhere are always the best indicators of that.

In the promotions, Keizo dressed in character and accompanied by the evil baikinman (Germ man) walked about the streets by the hall and had all the children smiling.

There were dolls and DVD's and books of anpanman in the entrance. We also gave all parents a 'speaking out' booklet which lets them know exactly what problems so many children face with activity sections that the children can share and begin to understand about such things as child poverty in far away places and how they and their schools are already helping.