Hiroyuki Sanada News

13 more messages to go!!

Hiro's birthday message project is still going forward.  Yes, you can still contribute to the project.

The deadline is Aug 31!!

So far, we have received 87 messages (Akira says 86 on her blog, but I know I JUST submitted my message, so that makes 87), so we still need 13 more messages to reach our goal of 100.

If you are still procrastinating, NO MORE TIME NOW!!  Please go ahead and submit your message.  Also, if you know someone who likes Sanada-san and may not know about this project, PLEASE send a reminder. 
Click the below banner, and write in your message/story.  "Story" means whatever your story about Sanada-san - how he motivated your life, what you started in your life because of him etc...

The purpose is to celebrate his birthday with fans all around the world.  This is a REAL fun project!!

Chain of good will from Hiro fans

I wrote about an idea to do a little bit of donation to a charity instead of contributing money to the production of Hiro gift a few days ago.  Some Japanese fans liked the idea and posted my idea onto their blogs.

Then, another fan responded with a nice reference.

 A few months ago (if I remember correctly), she read an article about him on Diners Club (credit card) member magazine.  Hiro contributed some photos and a message to a book called "LOVE BOOK", which was made by businessmen and celebs all over the world, to raise the awareness to the environmental issues.  He talked about it in this article, saying "one new perspective I learned when I started working outside of Japan is the responsibility as an opinion leader.  Actor is not only for acting, but the profession carries the second, third, roles for the society as a whole, due to its nature.  I am an actor and also is a creature that was given life by the mother earth, and I am happy to be a part of the activity to give back life to the earth."

For some reason, actors/actresses don't do much charity or social issues-related activities in Japan, and people are not used to making contribution to such activities.  It is not in their custom.  So the suggestion of birthday contribution and the above message by Hiro was a fresh idea for some Japanese fans, and they are making actions.  Now they are really excited to be a part of "chain of good will" started by Hiro.

I am also really excited to be a part of such nice fans, and that Hiro's message was received by many good people.

Akira, the manager of the birthday message board, says that if you already sent a message and want to add something, just use the same name and write <addition> at the top.  It will be added to your previous message.

We have so far collected about 60 messages from all over the world.  Please help us exceed 100 messages.  The deadline is 8/31!!

Here is the link to the message board:

Hiro Birthday Message board

One more week till the deadline for "Hiro Birthday Project"

Just a friendly reminder...  One more week till the deadline to send your message DIRECTLY to Hiro!!!

See my previous post and go to Birthday Project page, and write in your message.  We are still WAY short of our target to exceed last year's participant, so HURRY!!!

One more small item.  There have been some questions about the cost of this project - currently reiko is paying all the printing and decorating and delivery and all that, and some people are kind enough to be concerned about the cost and maybe wish to pitch in.

Reiko has offered to pay the cost as her token of participation, because she thinks that it is only fair against other people who put in so much time/effort/money in running Hiro websites, and she cannot do that.  We appreciated it and are currently working in that manner.  Thinking about how fairly devide the cost etc. may cause even more administrative headache.

So I suggest the following.  If you want to make some contribution, how about donating money to your favorite charity, and report it in your message to Sanada-san?  I believe Hiro would like such action by his fans, and it will make the world a better place a little tiny bit.

Anyway, please participate in your own manner!!

"Hiro Birthday Project 2008" Launched!

Hi, folks.  I am sorry I am so lazy for not following up on Tokyo Dome story yet, and I also have to apologize for another delay...

Sanada-san's birthday is on October 12, and we are just about 2 months away.  Last year, we had a VERY successful birthday project, with nearly 100 people sent over the birthday messages.  As many of you remember, they were printed out, binded into a nice album, and was hand-delivered to Hiro's management office in L.A.  And.... tada----!!.. HE SENT US THE THANK YOU CARD!

So we are starting a bit early this year, so production team can have enough time to prepare.  Several fans have put together a plan, and this year, our dear Akira has put up a special page to sign your message.

So PLEASE go to the following page, and write your birthday wishes to Hiro.  You can either write "message", or "story" - how Hiro changed your life/perspective/belief etc., or of course, both.  The DEADLINE IS AUG. 31!! 

2008 HIRO'S BIRTHDAY PROJECT

Some fans have already posted this link on various English, Japanese and Chinese websites.  We need participation from many many parts of the world!!  Our goal is to beat last year's record and reach 100 messages (last year we had about 96 messages from 20 countries... I don't remember exactly).