This year marks the 32nd annual telethon traditionally held around the end of August.
During the event Nippon Television and affiliated networks countrywide air a series of special programs aimed to promote the charity drive. One of the main events this year involves a famous Japanese TV personality, Ayako Imoto, running three full marathons (126.585 km or about 78.65 miles). Other promotional events include a 42 km (26 miles) relay swim across the (the waters connecting Honshu and Hokkaido in northern Japan), an attempt at a record-breaking eight-hour long ping pong rally, and other TV programs with special host NEWS – a Japanese pop group. There are also fundraising drives for 24 Hour Television at numerous stores around the country. AEON, one of Japan’s large shopping mall chains, is a main participate. For those in the Tokyo area, there will be a special event at the in Yokohama. 24 Hour Television telethon’s beneficiaries The 24 Hour Television event currently hopes to raise money and awareness for three areas of action: “Welfare”, “Environment”, and “Disaster Relief”. Welfare is about helping the handicapped to become more self-reliant and integrated into society by providing funds to buy special vehicles designed for the disabled and to train service dogs. Environment aims at creating volunteer cleaning up projects along Japan’s shores.
Disaster relief looks to provide funds to area ravaged by disasters, both within Japan and abroad. For instance, funds raised during the 24 Hour Television were given to victims of the 1995 Hanshin earthquake in Japan, victims of the 9-11 terrorist attacks in 2001, and victims of the deadly Asian tsunami in 2004.