Tokyo Tower lit in red a beacon of hope amid pandemic

During the night of this year's Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve, the Tokyo Tower in Tokyo was lit in red, showing two Chinese characters meaning hope, in an effort to bring love, courage, warmth and hope to those who were still battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the third time that the Tokyo Tower appeared red on the night of Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve. According to the Chinese Ambassador to Japan Kong Xuanyou, "I believe winter will eventually pass, and people will beat the pandemic in the end. I hope the light from the Tokyo Tower will bring more confidence and power to both Chinese and Japanese people."

At the same time, the music video Hope was released. The video, combining North Wind Blows, a song of the influential Chinese dance drama The White-Haired Girl; the Japanese nursery rhyme Ode to Springtime; and composer Ludwig Beethoven's Ode to Joy expresses people's resolution and confidence to combat the pandemic and blessings for the future of human beings.

"We chose North Wind Blows to add the atmosphere of the Chinese Lunar New Year, and Ode to Springtime to express people's hopes. Last year marked the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, so we hope the spiritual power of Ode to Joy will reinforce people's confidence and resolution against the pandemic," says music producer Ma Jiuyue.

People from both countries, such as Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of China Pan Yue, and renowned Chinese respiratory scientist Zhong Nanshan, express their hopes in the video.