Their only goal: To make Japan proud at the Lakme Fashion Week

As news of the tsunami hitting Japan reached Mumbai on Friday,  a delegation from Japan was busy trying to put the final touches on creations for their show slated to be held that evening at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week venue. 

When the news hit, frantic calls back  home coupled with silent prayers encapsulated the mood.

By the time the team absorbed the  shock, it was time for the three participating designers — Motonari Ono, Tamae Hirokawa and Sara Arai — to start preparing for their 7.30 pm show. And as well-wishers expressed their sympathy, the trio put up a stoic face, focussing on the one thing they wanted to do— make Japan proud.

Shigeki Tanaka, international projects development director for Infinity Creations which co-ordinated the cultural exchange programme,  meanwhile tried to dissuade queries of concern — he didn’t want people asking the trio any questions relating to the tragedy. “The incident is very unfortunate, but they are here to represent Japan. They have barely put themselves together for the show, and will only talk of it till the show is done,” Shigeki said before the show, adding, “The first thing we did was find out if everyone we know is fine. Once that was done, the only goal was putting together a successful show — make Japan proud.”

Post the show, designer Motonari Ono said that he still didn’t know the full extent of the destruction back home as everyone was just trying to keep their spirits going.

“I’ll find more only once I go back home,” he said. Japanese designer Ayaka Kurata, who has a stall at the Fashion Week, says that though her family doesn’t live in Tokyo, her office is situated there. “I called all of them and they are fine,” says Ayaka. 

Shigeki said that the designers will be flying out of the country by Saturday night, “as per schedule.”