Choose Sushi This Thursday & Help Japan

This Thursday 30 June Wellingtonians will be encouraged to buy sushi for lunch - with half the proceeds from participating sushi stores going towards the Japanese earthquake and tsunami recovery.

From 10.00am - 3.00pm on Thursday, people can buy sushi from participating central business district shops or two 'pop up' shops in Midland Park or Civic Square and enjoy Taiko team drumming performances as they eat.

Participating shops include Midori Sushi in the Majestic Centre, Yoshi Sushi and Bento at 126 Featherston Street and Dixon Sushi, A1 Sushi, St Pierres and Japanese Kitchen. The shops will display a poster saying 'Official Participating Sushi Store'.

The sushi-driven fundraising initiative is supported by Mayor Celia Wade-Brown and Wellington City Council.

"Japan sent their valuable expertise, support and a big team of people when Christchurch was hit by the February quake," says Mayor Wade-Brown. "They were good to us, so this is a way we return our support to the Japanese people who suffered so badly when the tsunami struck in March."

For those who are too attached to their desks to get out on Sushi Day, there is a solution. Companies in the central business district can pre-order sushi by Tuesday 28 June, in amounts of ten packs or more and orders will be delivered to their office.

Proceeds from Thursday's sushi sales will be delivered by Mayor Wade-Brown when she travels to Japan next month.