Singer Lady Gaga raised 6 million yen ($75,000) as part of a U.S.-sponsored effort to support Japan’s recovery from last year’s earthquake and tsunami by auctioning off a tea cup with her autograph and a lipstick kiss.
The blue, white and gold cup hasn’t been washed since the pop star drank Diet Coke from it at a press conference with U.S. Ambassador John Roos last June in Tokyo. The auction, on Yahoo Japan Corp. (4689), ended at midnight and
proceeds will go to the Tomodachi Arts Fellowship Program that sponsors young Japanese to study in the U.S.
Lady Gaga came to Tokyo 10 weeks after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami struck northern Japan, which left almost 20,000 people dead or missing and spawned the worst nuclear disaster in 25 years. She wrote “We Pray for Japan” on the Narumi-brand cup, and pledged to sell it to support relief efforts.
The singer of “Born this Way” returns to Japan to give three concerts on May 10th, May 12th and May 13th at the Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo.
