assign japanese string to variable

Following code contains japanese string that is assigned to variable $str. code ============= <?php $str = "グッドバイピカソ"; ?> ========= When i am executing above program it gives me error as following. Parse error: parse error, unexpected $ in /var/www/html/bhavin/mohla1.2.­2/b.php on line 3 Do anybody have solution for the above problem. How can i assign above japanese string(グッドバイピカソ) to variable without error. Thank You bhawin13 -- （ばヴぃん　ぱてる）