On 17 November 2012, hearts, doves, and classic toys such as nutcracker soldiers and trains made their appearances as part of “Christmas on A Great Street” – Orchard Road’s signature festive light-up. This is the 22nd year that the Hitachi Group has been bringing Christmas cheer to visitors as a main sponsor for the Christmas light-up.

At the switch-on ceremony held at ION Orchard, Mr Kiyoshi Kinugawa, Chief Executive for Asia, Hitachi, Ltd., represented the Hitachi Group Companies in Singapore to present a cheque of S$220,000 to the Community Chest, the fund-raising arm of the National Council of Social Services. These funds sustain 219 social service programmes that help children, support people with disabilities, care for the elderly and bring families together. Mr Yukio Toyoshima, Managing Director of Hitachi Asia Ltd., received a token of appreciation from the President on behalf of the Hitachi Group of Companies in Singapore.

The highlight of the night took place when Dr Tsutomu Kanai, Chairman Emeritus of Hitachi, Ltd., initiated the light-up with the President of Singapore, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam. Instantly, Orchard Road was decked out in hues of red, green, blue and gold shine and shimmer.

This year, the Christmas decorations were composed of three zones, each with their own signature motif: Tree for Joy at Tanglin zone, Heart for Love at Orchard zone, and Dove for Peace at Somerset zone. Visitors enjoyed the Christmas lights daily from 17 December 2012 till 6 January 2013, 7pm – 12 midnight (Sundays – Thursdays), 7pm to 2am (Fridays and Saturdays) and 7pm until 6am (Christmas and New Year’s Eve).