NEW YORK: An event including a concert to help the recovery of areas damaged by the massive New Year’s Day earthquake in the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, was held in New York on Friday.

Some 70 people joined the event as they thought of the affected areas while enjoying performances by Japanese musicians living in New York.

Products of “Wajima-nuri” lacquerware, designated as important intangible cultural property by the Japanese government, were offered for sale at the event venue.

The event was organized by The Bricks NYC, a group promoting Japanese art and music in New York. The profits from the event will be donated to groups working to restore cultural properties and supporting art activities in the damaged areas.

In the concert, songs including Amazing Grace were played as participants prayed for post-disaster reconstruction.

A 70-year-old participant said that she was very impressed and that cooperation is essential for achieving reconstruction as early as possible.

On sale at the venue were Wajima-nuri goods such as plates and wine cups from Taya Shikkiten, a long-established shop from the Ishikawa city of Wajima, home to the traditional Japanese lacquerware.

Although the building of the shop, which was established in 1818, collapsed in the 7.6-magnitude quake, some 80 pct of its products were undamaged. Picking up one of the products, a man, 55, said that it is beautiful and has a very delicate pattern.

JIJI Press