Lady Gaga Teacup Raises 6M yen for TOMODACHI Arts Fellowship

May 18, 2012 – The TOMODACHI Initiative, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Universal Music LLC, and Lady Gaga are proud to announce that the Internet auction of Lady Gaga’s “We Pray for Japan” teacup has raised over six million yen, or approximately US $75,000, to support the TOMODACHI Arts Fellowship Program.

The funds raised by the auction will help Japanese young people to pursue their artistic dreams by enrolling in one-year programs at specialized institutes in the United States in areas such as music, art, film, dance, song, theater, fashion, design, and digital media. Program details, implementing partners, and application procedures will be announced at a future date.

The TOMODACHI Arts Fellowship Program is part of TOMODACHI, a public-private partnership that supports Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and invests in the next generation of Japanese and Americans in ways that strengthen cultural and economic ties, and deepen the friendship between the United States and Japan.

The U.S. Embassy and TOMODACHI congratulate Lady Gaga for her continued commitment to Japan following the events of March 11, 2011 and thank both her and the successful bidder for their support for the TOMODACHI vision.

A joint U.S.-Japan initiative, TOMODACHI is led by the United States Government and the U.S.-Japan Council, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and is supported by the Japanese Government as well as corporations, organizations, and individuals from the United States and Japan. For more information, visit http://usjapantomodachi.org.

Media inquiries regarding TOMODACHI should be directed to the Press Office of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.