The oldest French Christmas Market, 440 years old, is coming to Tokyo for the first time ever! Strasbourg Christmas Mark

1. The oldest French Christmas Market, 440 years old, is coming to Tokyo for the first time ever! Strasbourg Christmas Market in Tokyo 2009 Details of the Market and General Information about the Concerts From Friday 11 December to Friday 25 December 2009 Venue: Tokyo International Forum What’s the Strasbourg Christmas Market? In France, when people think of Christmas, they always picture Alsace and its “Capital of Christmas”: Strasbourg. (1) A world premiere! The Strasbourg Christmas Market, where the tradition of Christmas trees was born, is expected at the Tokyo International Forum. Illuminations, a Christmas merry-go-round and wooden chalets will recreate the warm, authentic ambiance of the Strasbourg Christmas Market! (2) The “famous” Strasbourg Christmas chalets will present authentic craft products! The chalets will proudly feature handmade Christmas items, Christmas beer and jam, Alsatian wines imported into Japan for the first time and potteries and textiles from the Strasbourg region. (3) The Market Buffet: enjoy Alsatian specialities! Discover culinary delights unknown in Tokyo, such as the famous “tarte flambée”, an Alsatian speciality; to be washed down with a glass of white wine, or other scrumptious dishes, such as Alsatian Sauerkraut and more! (4) Experience an authentic Alsatian Christmas Alsatian craftsmen will come to Japan to promote and share authentic Strasbourg Christmas culture through numerous demonstrations and various workshops. (5) Christmas events and concerts To celebrate the first ever Strasbourg Christmas Market in Tokyo, events and concerts will also be organised to create an all-round Christmas ambiance.

2. General Information about the Strasbourg Christmas Market in Tokyo 2009 • Dates: from Friday 11 December 2009 to Friday 25 December, 2009 • Opening hours • -from Mondays to Saturdays and public holidays: 11:30am-9:30pm (last orders for food service at 9pm) • -Sundays: 11:30am-8:30pm (last orders for food service at 8pm) • -Illuminations: every day from 4:30pm to 11:30pm • Venue: Tokyo International Forum • Strasbourg Christmas Market 2009 Organisation Committee: • City of Strasbourg • Tourist Office of Strasbourg and its Region • Tokyo International Forum • NHK Enterprises • Patronage: (underway) • French Embassy in Japan • Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry • Japanese National Tourism organisation • City of Tokyo • Chiyoda City • Otemachi-Marunouchi-Yurakucho District Redevelopment Plan • OMY Area Management Association • Ecozzeria Association • With the support of: • The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan • The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Strasbourg and the Bas-Rhin • The Regional Council of Alsace • Air France • Toyota • Atout France • Rates: Free admission • Information: Secretariat of the Strasbourg Christmas Market • noel@t-i-forum.co.jp • http://www.t-i-forum.co.jp/noel

3. The Metropop Cello ensemble General Information About the Special Live “Christmas Concert" To celebrate the first ever Strasbourg Christmas Market in Tokyo, the oldest Christmas Market in France, special concerts will be organised for two days, two sessions a day on Tuesday, December 22 and Wednesday, December 23. The entertainment on these days will be provided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, which will be performing unusual and surprising musical themes. An affordable combined ticket for 3 ,000 yens will give you access to the concert event. First, you will enjoy a small gourmet plate and a drink of your choice; why not white wine from Alsace? Before the concert at 6pm, a photo session with Santa Claus will be held. Ideal for spending a special moment with your family, and you’ll get to keep a pretty souvenir of it! A wine tasting session will be held before the concert at 8pm. The perfect way to share a romantic Christmas! Dates Tuesday 22 December and Wednesday 23 December First session: 6pm to 7pm (photos sessions with Santa Claus are offered before the beginning of the concert) Second session: 8pm to 9pm (a wine tasting session is offered before the beginning of the concert) * The concert hall opens 45 min. before the beginning of each session. Venue Hall B5 of the Tokyo International Forum Performers Tuesday 22: "The Metropop" big band featuring members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and their guests TAIRA Toshiya and NISHINAWA Isao, a piano and bass duo. Some members of the Orchestra will abandon their usual instruments for the evening and perform as a big band! TAIRA Toshiya and NISHINAWA Isao, a suave and harmonious piano and bass duo, will perform a broad range of music inspired by nostalgic jazz/swing, along with traditional Christmas carols. Wednesday 23: The cello ensemble of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and their guest: Mayumi YAMAMATO (soprano, member of Nikikai). An ensemble of nine cellists from the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, featuring Masahiro TANAKA, principal cellist, Nobuo FURUKAWA and their guest, the soprano Mayumi YAMAMOTO, will perform many different styles of music, ranging from classical to Piazzolla, together with songs from “The Sound Of Music”. Tickets Denshi Ticket PIA (electronic ticketing from Ticket PIA) on sale from 31 October at 10am Rate: 3,000 yens incl. VAT (per session, single rate) * Unassigned seating (you will enter the concert hall according to the number on your ticket) * A beverage of your choice and a small gourmet plate are included in the price (served only before the session) * Children under 5 are not permitted. ⒸVILLE DE STRASBOURG-G.ENGEL

4. Presentation of the Craftsmen and Products Featured in Japan Alsatian Wines The wines of the François SCHWACH Winery boast incredibly rich flavours and dramatic freshness. Sparkling Alsatian wines will also be available for your Christmas festivities. Mr and Mrs SCHWACH will be in Japan to present everything you need to know about the charms of Alsatian wine. Jam A jam entirely dedicated to Christmas, made from spices and Clementines: the famous “Christmas jam”! There are plenty of other jams to enjoy, especially jam made of Mirabelle plums, a fruit from the region of Alsace. A jam-maker will come to Japan especially to present all these delicacies to you! Christmas Ornaments Handmade Christmas ornaments decorated with typically Alsatian patterns to adorn your Christmas tree. Some of them depict the Strasbourg Christmas Market! Glass Ornaments A master Alsatian glassblower will present his collection of handmade glass objects. Discover little animal ornaments for Christmas trees. The Market (provisional list) Christmas Beer Taste the traditional Christmas beer! A limited-edition beer sold only during the Christmas season in France. Designed to reflect the spirit of Christmas, this orange-flavoured beer is sweet and mellow. Brandies A very popular liqueur in France, raspberry is a flavour of which French women are especially fond, whereas French men tend to prefer pomace brandy. Honey Come and discover the many different types of honey available on the Market, such as the very rare “fir tree honey”! A certified organic beekeeper will come to Japan. He will organise the sale of mulled wine with honey. Wooden Christmas Decorations A very popular shop in Alsace known for its hand painted objects will offer a few samples of its products.

5. Market Buffet Presentation Enjoy delicious Alsatian specialities! Tarte flambée The tarte flambée is an Alsatian speciality made from rolled-out bread dough covered with various toppings. The craftsman Mr Philippe Farrugia, an eminent member of the Guild of Genuine Tarte Flambées of Alsace, will come to Japan. He will bake his tartes flambées so that you can taste them right out of the oven, an oven especially imported for the occasion! What’s more, the actress Horikita Maki has tasted and appreciated these tartes flambées in Alsace. Mulled wine Come and warm up with a glass of mulled wine, served exclusively at the Christmas Market! A beekeeper will present his secret recipe: a rare mulled wine made with white Alsatian wine. Baked goods A team of 4 bakers will craft all sorts of Alsatian Christmas goodies: bredle – little Christmas biscuits, maenele, gingerbread, kougelhopf and more) for the pleasure of young and old alike! • Other products presented • Other specialities from our region: sauerkraut, Quiche Lorraine, duck liver, Alsatian wines, warm apple juice and more will be served at the Christmas Market. • * The list of products and the Buffet menu are subject to change. Information: In Japan: Secretariat of the Strasbourg Christmas Market noel@t-i-forum.co.jp - http://www.t-i-forum.co.jp/noel In France: Strasbourg Tourist Office – Press Department Service Annie Dumoulin – Christine Klein presse@otstrasbourg.fr – + 33 (0)3 88 52 28 25/26