Tokyo 2005

The exhibition of the United Buddy Bears in Japan ended successfully with the "Golden Week".

The Goethe-Institut in Japan wrote: "The amount of visitors and the reaction to the exhibition were overwhelming. The Buddy Bears not only promoted Germany in Tokyo very well, but were also excellent ambassadors for the message of this project of international understanding."

Please read the Messages of greetings for the exhibition in Tokyo

According to the MORI-Group, project partners of the Buddy Bär Berlin GmbH in Tokyo, they were able to count 3 million visitors over the 6 weeks of the exhibition. This is a record for the exhibition of the circle of "United Buddy Bears" which had already been presented in Berlin, Kitzbuehel, Hong Kong and Istanbul.

"The motto of the United Buddy Bears is "We have to get to know each other better", and I would like to see that Japan and Germany also learn more about each other". With these words, Mr. Köhler appreciated the international project that reaches beyond national boundaries in his speech at the opening.

Prime Minister Koizumi was impressed by the bears" symbolism, standing together "hand in hand". "This emphasises the diversity of cultures and traditions in the global society. It is important to respect one another." 
At the opening Mr. Köhler and Mr. Koizumi then signed a very special bear - the Buddy Bear designed by the artist Frank Rödel representing "Germany in Japan".

With the Goethe-Instituit, the German Embassy and the Mori-Group as official partners the circle of "United Buddy Bears" was presented in Roppongi Hills, one of the most modern districts of Tokyo, from 4th April to 8th May 2005 within the scope of the Event "Germany in Japan"