The L'Aquila earthquake struck Italy in April 2009. To aid recovery efforts, Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. donated computers to elementary schools in the L'Aquila region. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, Dante Grossi, the Managing Director of Citizen Watch Italy, stated his desire to return that kindness by providing a form of direct support to the children of Japan which would communicate a feeling of warmth and hope transcending national borders.
20% of Shinchicho was flooded by the tsunami that followed the earthquake, and the town suffered enormous damage: 578 families lost their homes, and more than 110 of the town's residents were killed or went missing. Amid these circumstances, Mr. Grossi and Citizen Watch Italy sought to encourage local children, the leaders of the future, to feel hope for tomorrow, with strong spirits unbowed by hardship and hearts comforted by music, through their donation of musical instruments and organization of a commemorative concert. We hope that the donated instruments will offer a powerful message to victims of the disaster at other events organized to promote recovery, and that the spirit of Citizen Watch Italy's gift will be communicated.