A ceremony was held at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo on Thursday to present representatives of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams with about 1,000 quilt panels.
Yomiuri Quilt Time, a bimonthly magazine published by Yomiuri Joho Kaihatsu Co., solicited entries under a "Omotenashi quilt" hospitality project. About 1,700 quilt panels were sent in from across Japan, partly as a gesture of appreciation for quilts that were donated from about 30 countries for the victims of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
The ceremony, held online, included the presentation of quilts with designs of cherry blossoms and Mt. Fuji.
Sakura Kokumai, a member of the U.S. Olympic karate team who participated in the ceremony, said she hopes to inspire children's dreams through the Olympics. Another participant, Deja Young, a member of the U.S. Paralympic athletics team, expressed her pleasure for the support.
Such quilts are also planned to be presented to British athletes who will compete at the Tokyo Games.
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