On May 13, 2007, World Food Programme (WFP) Office in Japan and Japan Association for the United Nations World Food Programme sponsored a “Walk the World” charity walk in the Minato Mirai area of the city of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. There were 103 participants for Canon: employees, family members, friends and associates. This marks the second time that Canon has participated, continuing from last year.

This walk for charity has as its objective the elimination of hunger in 350 million of the world’s children and is held on the same day in countries around the globe. This year’s theme was “Save the World from Hunger.” The aim of the walk is to make hunger the most pressing problem by having many people around the world participate.

Following the opening ceremony, the participants set off from Rinko Park. Under blue skies, they enjoyed walking while taking in some of Yokohama’s beautiful landmarks, including Akarenga Park, Yamashita Park and Minatonomieruoka Park.

A portion of the walk’s entry fees (¥1,000 per person) will be applied to the school feeding programmes that the WFP runs in developing countries. These programmes work to expand educational opportunities by providing children whom poverty would otherwise prevent from being able to go to school with highly nutritional meals. (As little as approximately 20 yen per day enables one child to receive one day’s meals.)