Arashi with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japan Tourism Agency held a press conference announcing their new PR campaign.

The campaign carries a message from Japan - thanking people around the world for their help and support after the earthquake,
and to appeal visitors to come to Japan by reassuring the safety of Japan and showing the wonderful sites through their eyes.

Each member of Arashi was filmed in some of Japan's areas and events of interest.
Jun - Hokkaido; Nino - Aomori; Ohno - Kyoto; Sakurai - Kagoshima and Aiba - Okinawa.

They also introduced 'maneki-neko' (Fortune/Lucky Cat) - a cat believed to 'invite people and bring good fortune'.
Arashi did the cat paw poses in the commercial. ^o^m
They really really made you want to go. So happy and cheery and fun and etc etc. :D

The CM comes in three versions: 30 seconds, 60 seconds and 4 minutes.

The CMs will be aired across 133 countries worldwide. It was already aired at Times Square, New York, with English subtitles.
The CM will air twice every hour at Times Square throughout the day.
There are also Chinese and Korean versions.

Expect the CMs to be aired on places such as CNN, international airports, in-flight tvs and other suitable and relevant public places with big tv/display screens.
There is also plan for the campaign to be put on Ustream.
The CMs will be available on the Japan Tourism Agency's website from August 2011.

133 countries~ So you might just catch it in your country. Countries mentioned in reports so far, Korea and Malaysia.
Do tell if you spot Arashi around. ^^

Anyway, if you've seen it, is that a new song in the background? By Arashi?
Some fans said it is 'Your Song' from Dream-A-live. What do you guys think?
If only they put Arashi concert scene in it.

~~~

Visit Japan website: (No Arashi... yet...?)

The full 4-minute Message from Japan CM is so so good! MUST WATCH! Totally makes you want to go to Japan. ^^
Arashi did the Beatles Abbey Road pose thing in Tokyo. :D

Actually, it's Once Again that's only in RE, Your Song is in both (I had to choose between one of my favorite Arashi songs and the solos when buying the album back in the day -__-; ). Anyhow, I confirm, it's Your Song :).

 ..... if I still in Vancouver, I think it is easy for me to find out in Vancouver International Airport, but in Edmonton......... .....I will try to find out if it will show in Edmonton International Airport or not.......(hope I can find it!  )

If you subscribed to the Johnny's International E-mail service, check your inbox.
There's a new message with a list of the areas where the CMs will be screened at. ^^

For those in Malaysia, I've found out that it's already aired in Bukit Bintang.

Have yet to watch it myself though...definitely going to Bukit Bintang tomorrow to watch it!