Tokyo: The Liaison office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan and East Asia organised His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 89th birthday celebration today at Hotel Okura. Many Japanese, Mongolians, Chinese, and people from other communities joined the Tibetans in the celebration.

Geshe Sonam Gyaltsan Gonta and the Tibetans performed prayer recitations and religious rituals, and Representative Dr Tsewang Gyalpo Arya of the Liaison of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, offered a prostration and Mandala of body, speech, and mind to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

In his opening remark, Representative Dr Tsewang Gyalpo Arya welcomed the guests and thanked them for coming to participate in the celebration despite their busy schedules. He reminded them of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s advice that the best present for him on his birthday is to do one good act on the day. Dr. Arya took the opportunity to thank the Japanese government and people for their continued support of the Tibetan cause and for Japan’s statement condemning China’s human rights violation in Tibet and other regions during the Geneva Universal Periodic Report (UPR) session in January this year. He also informed the audience of the recent US Congress resolution “Resolve Tibet Act” and requested something similar from the Japanese diet, too.

Tharlam Dolma Changra, Education Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and the Chief Guest of the celebration, greeting the gathering expressed her pleasure to be with so many people to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday. She thanked the Japanese government and people for their support of the Tibet issue. She briefed them on the four missions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and updated them on the recent knee surgery of His Holiness in New York and the quick recovery.

Madam Sakurai Yoshiko, Director of the Think Tank Japan Institute for National Fundamentals, expressed strong support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision and the Tibet issue. She said injustice in Tibet should be debated and made known around the world. She further added that the Tibetans have full rights for self-determination and Japan should strongly support the Tibetan people’s non-violent struggle for justice and peace in their homeland.

Dr Tatsumura Kazuko, a long-time friend of His Holiness and a supporter of the Tibetans, while proposing a toast to the occasion, talked about her long association with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans. She said how His Holiness once told her that she should live a long and healthy life to help others. She is one of the early impresarios who introduced Tibetan opera and performing arts in the US and Europe.

Shimomura Hakubun, Chairman of the Japanese Parliamentarian Support Group for Tibet, and Ishikawa Akimasa, General Secretary, have sent messages wishing His Holiness good health and long life.

Around two hundred people, including Japanese national and regional lawmakers, abbots and monks from various monasteries and Shinto shrines, intellectuals and professors, and Tibet supporters, gathered on the day. People from faraway places, including Hokkaido in the north, Okinawa in the south, Kyushu, Shikoku, Osaka, Nara, etc., joined the celebration. They all expressed great love and devotion for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision for world peace and harmony.

In his conclusion remarks, Makino Seishu, former lawmaker and Chairman of the Save Tibet Network, requested the gathering support the Tibetans’ struggle for freedom and democracy and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s effort for a more compassionate and peaceful world. Ms. Kitazawa Anri of the Save Tibet Network emceed the event.

Lastly, Representative Dr Arya thanked the Hotel Okura staff and the Japanese volunteers who were behind the scenes to make the Birthday Celebration of His Holiness a success.

-Report filed by OoT, Japan-