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Posted: Tuesday, May 11th, 2004 10:58 AM HST

Ukulele virtuoso helps promote Hawaii tourism in Japan

By Associated Press

(Honolulu-AP) -- Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro is helping promote Hawaii tourism in Japan. Hawaii Tourism Japan, the state's marketing contractor of Japan, contracted with Shimabukuro to appear on commuter train posters, in television spots and in person, as he did last week at a Tokyo shopping mall. He is being paid 10 million yen, or more than 88-thousand-dollars. The marketing executives say Shimabukuro is a good fit for the demographic the travel industry is targeting. Hawaii Tourism Japan was formed by the Japanese advertising giant Dentsu and has a seven-point-three (m)million dollar annual budget for promoting the islands. Hawaii Tourism Japan executive director Takashi Ichikura says he expects to continue to incorporate Shimabukuro in Hawaii campaigns next year, along with other Hawaii artists. (Copyright 2004 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)