Canon and the Shiki Theater Company organized Canon Cats Week at the Canon Cats Theater in Yokohama, from September 13 to 18, and invited about 4,200 middle school students from local schools to participate.

The event was held to commemorate the second anniversary of the opening of the Canon Cats Theater. Its objective was to contribute to nurturing children's sensibilities and enhancing their awareness of the arts, by providing an opportunity for young people, on whose shoulders our future rests, to enjoy a "professional theater performance."

Under the auspices of the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education, about 1,000 first year middle school students and their chaperones were invited to attend this event each day, from September 13 to 16. A total of 4,231 people participated over the four-day period.

Canon Cats Week got off to a lively start from the first day. After entering the theater, the students exuded excitement even before the curtain rose. They cheered when the play commenced with the lowering of the theater lights, and were all quickly riveted by the powerful music and supple and sinuous movements of the "cats." Reacting candidly during the show, they cried out "the cat came right up to me!" and "terrific!" and enjoyed the performance thoroughly, clapping in time to the music and applauding moving scenes.

Even after the play was over, the thrill of the experience remained with them as they shared their impressions with each other. When asked, many commented that "it was the first time for me to see the show and it was great" and "I enjoyed it."

Students who had transferred to schools in Yokohama City from areas hit by the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake were also invited and a total of 20 such students and their chaperones participated on September 17. Through the kind offices of the Shiki Theater Company, an opportunity for the participants to meet all the Cats performers after the show was arranged, and the students were able to talk to the actors and have a commemorative group photo taken.

On September 18, the final day of Canon Cats Week, students attending high schools for special needs education were invited as a part of the Canon Monthly Seat program, which was inaugurated in September of last year. A total of four students and chaperones participated.

Over the week, a total of 4,255 people were able to enjoy performances of Cats, and Canon Cats Week closed as a great success.