Prior to AIDS Day, December 1, JOICFP held a public event at Bunkyo City Hall, Tokyo, to raise awareness of AIDS.

Over 230 members of the public came to see a presentation of The Endless Goodbye picture drama, which was 'introduced' by cartoon characters from JOICFP's website. The characters were specifically chosen as they are cute and friendly and can 'talk about' sensitive topics such as AIDS without putting people off.

JOICFP and Bunkyo city compared the HIV/AIDS situation between Africa and Japan. Africa has a high number of people who are HIV-positive or suffering from AIDS, while although the number is small in Japan it is steadily rising. This surprised the visitors as the trend of HIV infection is falling in most developed countries.

Looking at images from the picture drama
that explain the realities of HIV/AIDS in Africa

As for AIDS prevention, in project sites, the ATOMM concept and advocacy are actively promoted, although mistaken traditional beliefs still exist. In Japan, many people think that AIDS has nothing to do with them and that there is no need for prevention.

In Japan, most people have never heard of VCT and do not know where to go to get an AIDS test, or think that they need to.

JOICFP also promoted its safe motherhood campaign.

A survey completed by more than 100 participants showed that the event had been very popular, with some people saying it was the first time they had ever heard about the AIDS situation in Africa.

AIDS Day

On 1st December, JOICFP in collaboration with Excite Japan, a major Internet content and service provider, held a public event at an Excite Cafe in Tokyo.

The Excite website receives around 200,000 hits a day, and it hosted a webpage advertising the event, which received over 10,000 hits. Four hundred people in one week registered to hear JOICFP talk about HIV/AIDS under the theme of "No sad mothers because of AIDS," and Excite sent out invitations to 60 people.

The event began with Yumiko, singer with the internationally known group Buffalo Daughter, and Nobuhiro Kadoi, Senior Program Officer, JOICFP, holding a conversation on safe motherhood, related to HIV/AIDS.

Yumiko (left) and Kadoi in front
of the audience at the Excite Cafe

Kadoi explained to the participants that HIV/AIDS was related to them, and furthermore, to their children. He also asked them to take an interest in world events, and to feel the issues of AIDS rather than just intellectually understand them.

Kadoi went on to talk about the history of AIDS Day, the situation of AIDS around the world, JOICFP's projects to tackle HIV/AIDS and prevent mother-to-child transmission.

The audience was able to buy goods such as an organic cotton bag with the message 'Save Mothers from AIDS' printed on it, and fundraising at the event was very successful.

Excite had also supported JOICFP for a Mother's Day event earlier in the year, and plans to host another HIV/AIDS awareness raising event in the near future.

After both events, MTV Japan conducted interviews with JOICFP about HIV/AIDS that will be aired on 16th December.