Yoko Ono wants to give hugs to fellow Japanese

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Yoko Ono wants to give hugs to fellow Japanese

The Associated Press Published Friday, July 22, 2011 10:01AM EDT

Yoko Ono is shown here in a file photo from a May 11, 2009 press conference for a John Lennon exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC. (AP Photo / Evan Agostini)

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TOKYO - Yoko Ono says on a visit to Japan she wants to give her disaster-stricken homeland a big hug.

Ono said in an interview Friday 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 Chornobyl.

The widow of Beatles singer 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 cancelled trips to Japan and its tourism industry is suffering.

Ono said she wanted to hug her people, and tell them, "listen, we are all together."