Japan’s integrated property development firm Roppongi Hills is continuing its collaboration with MasterCard Worldwide. It will be doing this with the help of the ‘Purchase with Purpose’ program at the Roppongi Hills Christmas Market 2012, for the third consecutive year. The program will last from December 1, 2012 until December 25, 2102 and will provide all MasterCard holders an opportunity to support earthquake orphans through their Christmas shopping.
The contactless payment service known as the MasterCard PayPass will be available at 12 stalls in the Christmas Market for the first time. This will enable PayPass holders to make purchases just by waving the card over the PayPass reader.
A portion of the proceeds from the purchases will be donated to the Momo-Kaki Orphans Fund. This is an independent body which helps raise funds to support children who were orphaned due to the Great East Japan Earthquake 2011. The name of the fund was inspired by the Japanese saying, “momo-kuri san-nen, kaki hachi-nen” which means “peaches and chestnuts, three years; persimmons eight years”.
The proverb explains how it takes time for the fruits of one’s actions to come into being. The fund helps to care for orphans by supporting their educational costs for up to 10 years or more. The Roppongi Christmas Market is now celebrating its sixth year and offers an authentic atmosphere, similar to that of the traditional Christmas markets in Germany.
