Condolence book for Japanese earthquake victims

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Pretoria - A book of condolence has been opened at the Japanese Embassy in Pretoria in memory of the victims of the earthquake and tsunami which hit the Asian country last week.

The condolence book will be available at the embassy on Thursday and Friday between 2.30pm and 4pm, and on Tuesday and Wednesday between 10am and noon.

In a message to South Africans, Japan's ambassador to South Africa Toshiro Ozawa conveyed heartfelt gratitude for the sympathy and empathy they had expressed in "countless" telephone calls, e-mails and letters.

"I thank you for your words of kindness and support, and above all for the hands of friendship with which you are reaching out to us, the people of Japan, in this difficult time," he said. 

A 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan's northeastern Honshu Island on Friday, causing a massive a devastating tsunami and damage to the country's nuclear power plant.