Do you think sporting, entertainment and cultural events scheduled for the next few weeks should be canceled out of respect for the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami?

In the first few weeks I could understand it, but now there is a desperate need to get the economy going, and that means holding events to get consumers spending. In Tokyo, restaurants, hotels, shops and many other businesses are suffering. Look at the economic fallout in the local area from Tokyo Disneyland being closed since March 11. And the 5-star Shangri-La Hotel in Tokyo has closed its doors until April 16. That is unprecedented.

So far, I have seen postponement notices for new product launches, movies, fashion shows, sports events, concerts, and even hanami parties, which people desperately need to do to lift the spirits. JT even ran a story last week about the August Tokyo Bay fireworks festival being canceled. That was an overreaction.

I think even the evacuees themselves would like some diversion from the worry of their monotonous days. I'm sure that if they had access to a TV, they'd like to watch baseball, soccer and so on.

It's not disrespectful to the victims or survivors to hold events. And at some, like Cyndi Lauper's concert, fans can be encouraged to donate money, if they so wish.

But the economy has to get moving as quickly as possible, otherwise there are going to be a lot of businesses going bust by summer.

I totally support the view provided here by smartacus.This is not the time for us to sit still, but IS the time to keep on going. That means not only to meet our basic needs but also to reward ourselves for the hard, no hardest, work we have to endure during this period. As a seasoned event organizer, I would like to see if I can contribute to this cause. Thanks, smartacus, for your precious views.

A few weeks? Yes. Several months? No. I personally would like to see the summer firework festivals go on. But one thing we have to remember about the Japanese is that they abstain from any form of celebration when a relative passes away. That includes no wedding parties, not celebrating the new year, etc. So I kind of understand calling off some events out of respect.

It is time to look to the future. It is always brighter. Just ask yourself the same question,"If you knew in advance that your life would end in such a tragic event and you could do nothing to prevent it, would you want your family to not attend an event that you knew they would enjoy and help them make it through their loss?" Children standing in line for fresh water with their empty plastic bottle had smiles on their faces.

Respect the dead by celebrating life.

I agree with everyone else above. This is a time to help people and especially those victims of the disaster area, who need these events to keep their mind off their surroundings and the coming months. The rest of the country, and indeed, the world, is mourning with them enough...we need to keep positive and sports and cultural events is just one way to keep this going.

Rather than cancel the games, they should send some proceeds to the re-construction efforts and helping the victims of this disaster.

Considering 400,000 people are living in shelters now and assuming half of those have lost their house, it would take half of the population of Japan to donate about 100,000 for an average cost of 30 million per house. I guess we need many more charity events. There should be one national mourning day but after that we have to help the survivors.

My wife is a dancer in Tokyo and all her group's events have been cancelled and even their training halls are closed. Suffice to say, people in the entertainment industry have been stripped of their livelihoods and many are in state of despair. Cancelling all events right through the summer will have a backlash effect on many companies who are in any way connected to entertainment.

To save electricity -- yes, but you won't bring back the dead by stopping everything.

I voted no. I think they should be held in honor of the victims and to help raise funds for the survivors.

True, some night events that would suck a lot of electricity should be postponed. But things must go on for the sake of the economy as well as the mental health of the population.

I like that idea of a national day of mourning. Perhaps the 49th day should be it.

In all of Japan? no way, life goes on. In affected areas? case by case. Tokyo with in disrupted services is iffy but anything West of Tokyo should be encouraged to get on with it.

I have no problem with events going on as long as its safe, CLauper was negligent for doing her Tokyo shows, she put a lot of people at risk, she shud have stuck with the fund raising bit.

If its safe go ahead, iffy hard to say, western Japan shud definitely carry on with stuff/living

It doesn't help anyone if they cancel such events. Instead they should donate some of the income from the events to people hit by the disaster.

In keeping with Japanese culture.. yes, they should cancel all upcoming events.

As an American though.. I would say let the events go on as scheduled.

Definitely go on. This isn't a family death where they cancel any forms of celebration. This effects the ENTIRE Japanese economy at a time when the economy NEEDS to, at worst, maintain itself. Healing needs to happen, sure, but letting the economy falter in the name of healing is NOT going to make anything better.

MATSURI!!

OK...let them continue. Donate the money from the event. Solicit donations from those who attend and make it a collection point for those in need.

Would April 28th be the 49th day (according to Buddhist funeary rites?)?

I'd like to suggest that we have a National Day of Mourning set aside. After that, things can go ahead, but I think everyone would feel better about it if we all had a chance to mourn together.

(And if it is the 28th, it would mean a longer golden week vacation for the people who just don't care.)

As it was once said, "There is just something about being at a ballpark that makes your life better." Play Ball !

Have the events as planned, and keep the collection boxes rattling.

No way! They should be played in their honor!

Tone down some events, yes. Like many of the other comments, the show must go on, but if we can raise funds, have a silent prayer/reflection, conserve resources etc, we should.

I experienced Hansin Earthquake in 1995. In my personal opinion, events should be played to cheer up the victims and stimulate Japanese economy, but this time, some events that use a large amount of electricity should be canceled.

should be cancelled to save the energy.