Dear Chairman John Ralston Saul and all our colleagues and friends of International PEN:
I and all of the members of the Japan P.E.N. Club would like to express our deep gratitude for the many warm messages of encouragement for and solidarity with our members and the Japanese people that we have received in the aftermath of the major earthquake that hit Japan.
A number of days have past, but the full extent of the damage is still unknown. We feel deep sorrow thinking of the plight of the many Japan P.E.N. Club members and their relatives and friends who are in the affected region.
For us as writers, this is truly a time to put into practice the spirit embodied in the theme “The Environment and Literature – What can words do?” of 76th International PEN Congress Tokyo 2010.
Thankfully, the secretariat and office of the Japan P.E.N. Club did not suffer damage. Rest assured that, as a member chapter, we intend to continue our activities in accordance with the International PEN Charter.
In closing, speaking for and with all of our PEN friends across the world, we would like to send a message of solidarity to the many people who are even now suffering in very difficult circumstances.
Thank you for your support.
Takashi Atoda, President
The Japan P.E.N. Club
Contact person: Tsutomu Ide
Japan P.E.N. Club, Secretariat
E-mail: tsutomu_ide@japanpen.or.jp
The Japan P.E.N. Club
20-3 Nihonbashi Kabutocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0026
Tel +81-3-5614-5391 Fax +81-3-5695-7686
