Sorry is not the hardest word for the town of Gomen, Kochi Prefecture, whose name says it all.
Playing on the Japanese word gomen (sorry), the town is holding an annual letter-of-apology contest for people who know they should have said it to their loved ones.
Run by a committee of residents, the contest was proposed by the late cartoonist Takashi Yanase, who grew up in Gomen. It began in 2003.
Anyone can participate. Simply send a postcard bearing a message of apology in Japanese to the committee by Dec. 31. The message can be either solemn or lyrical and illustrations are welcome.
The prize winners will be announced in January.
For inquiries, call the committee at 080-2988-9721. More information is available at Nankoku Municipal Government's website: www.city.nankoku.lg.jp/life/life_dtl.php?hdnKey=3509