NZ Giant Rugby Ball a big hits in Japan

Hundreds of Japanese people have been queuing to learn more about New Zealand in the Giant Rugby Ball in Tokyo. 

Already almost 5000 members of the public have viewed a stunning audio visual presentation of New Zealand inside the ball with thousands more seeing it outside.

Maori Cultural group Te Arawa has been drawing crowds to the ball with regular cultural performances. 

The placing of the rugby ball under the Tokyo Tower has captured Japanese media with thirteen television channels, 14 newspapers and 85 websites featuring the ball to millions of viewers and readers.

The interest has caused a spike in the users of Tourism New Zealand’s Japanese consumer website with the average number of 1500 visits to the site per day rising to over 4000 per day since the ball was open. 

National Television channel, Nippon TV broadcast the weather live from inside the Giant Rugby Ball on Friday night. 

The ball was formally opened on Wednesday by Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key.  It will be open from 28 October to 3 November.

During the seven days the Ball is open, it will play host to a series of public and private events aimed at promoting New Zealand as a place to visit, work and do business with. It will also host functions which will showcase New Zealand cuisine.