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TOKYO — Visiting her disaster-stricken homeland, Yoko Ono said Friday she wants to give fellow Japanese a big hug.
Ono said she was deeply saddened by the devasation caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that left more than 20,000 people dead or missing and touched off the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.
"I have so many incredible feelings about this whole situation," Ono said in an interview with The Associated Press before accepting an award for her philanthropic work in Asia and Africa. "I really wanted to hold them, hug them and tell them, `Listen, we are all together.'"
The widow of singer-songwriter John Lennon said that as a native Japanese she felt it was her duty to show her support and set an example for others to come as well. Many celebrities and athletes have canceled trips to Japan and its tourism industry is suffering.
"I decided to come here because I really feel that this is something that all Japanese are going through, including myself," said the musician and artist who lives in New York City.
