YOUNGSTERS from Japan will be heading to Bridport in the summer.

Organisers of the town’s long-established Japanese exchange were relieved to hear that the 2011-2012 programme will be going ahead following the devastating tsunami in the Eastern country.

Japanese youths will be coming to stay with their partners in the area from July 30 to August 15.

Their stay will include a Hiroshima Commemoration on August 6 which will also honour the memory of those who died in the recent earthquake disaster.

Co-ordinator Arthur Woodgate said an exciting and varied schedule is being devised, made possible by the fundraising efforts of the Bridport youngsters over a two-year period.

“We’ll be providing our usual contribution to the food festival on June 18, with the coconut shy, skittles and face-painting.

“We’ve had to re-think things a bit when we take over what’s left of Bucky Doo Square on July 16.

“So with limited space it’ll be a peanut shy, Kamikaze ducks and the chance to win a fantastic themed cake donated by a well-wisher.”

On Saturday, August 6 the English and Japanese young people will be holding the Hiroshima Commemoration event.

It will be in memory of the victims of the disaster in Japan as well as those who died in the atomic bombing of Japan in 1945.

The event, where candle-lit lanterns will be floated down the river, will be open to the public.

Mr Woodgate said: “We piloted this event two years ago, when the last group of young Japanese pupils were with us. We didn’t open this to the public because we wanted to iron out any problems beforehand.

“Fortunately the only problem arose when I fell in the river and got seriously wet, something certain individuals seem not to want me to forget.”

For anyone who wishes to join in the commemoration event, lanterns must be ordered in advance.

The organising body, registered charity Bridport Young Persons’ Action Trust, does not wish to use this as a fundraising event, which it feels is inappropriate.

The fee of £4 per lantern will cover the cost of materials, with any balance being contributed to the Japanese Disaster Fund.