Japanese characters meaning "Don't lose" using hotel room lights are seen through a snowstorm at Hotel Listel Inawashiro in the town of Inawashiro, Fukushima Prefecture, on Nov. 27, 2021. (Mainichi/Kengo Miura)

       INAWASHIRO, Fukushima -- An event to send out positive messages using window lights in guest rooms was held at a hotel in this northeastern Japan town on the night of Nov. 27.

       The "Light Up Message" event started in 2000 at Hotel Listel Inawashiro in the town of Inawashiro, Fukushima Prefecture. Messages were selected from the general public's submissions, with this year's event reflecting the coronavirus pandemic.

       The lights formed Japanese words meaning "Don't lose to COVID-19" and "Fight, Fukushima," as well as a tiger design and letters associated with next year's Chinese zodiac. The event used 298 rooms and about 850 people took part.

       Hidemi Tsukii, general manager of the hotel, said, "The message reflects our desire to restore regular daily life. I hope that the pandemic will subside next year."

       (Japanese original by Kengo Miura, Aizuwakamatsu Local Bureau)

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