This historic disaster has prompted generous contributions from countries, companies, organizations and people across the globe. “Whenever I hear of all the support coming in from around the world, it buoys my spirit,” said Mr. Kikuchi of the Asabiraki sake brewery. The West Coast has been active in supporting Japan too. On March 25, Universal Music released a compilation album called Songs for Japan that brought together a slew of famous musicians. Its proceeds go to the Japan Red Cross. Hollywood actor Ken Watanabe started the site kizuna311.com. The site makes videos available  where Watanabe and other celebrities read poems and stories and offer words of encouragement to the victims of the disaster. The word “kizuna” means “solidarity” in Japanese. “We would like to turn our attention toward the rebuilding we must now do, and inspire the kizuna required for us to achieve it, “  commented Ken Watanabe on the main page of kizuna311.com. The videos can also be seen on YouTube.

In San Francisco on April 9, 13 of the Bay Area’s top chefs gathered at Yoshi’s jazz club and restaurant to host “Yoshi’s Japan Relief Benefit.” I was in town one week before the event to interview Executive Chef Sho Kamio, one of the most respected chefs in the city. Chef Sho is from the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, a heavily damaged area. “The home I grew up in was washed away by the tsunami, but luckily my family was unharmed,” he told me. “However, I have many friends and relatives who I have not been able to contact. I felt I had to do something, so I decided to call upon my fellow chefs who I led on a food tour through Miyagi Prefecture just last year. That’s how we started this event.” The $75 tickets quickly sold out. In Seattle, Taichi Kitamura, owner and chef of the popular Sushi Kappo Tamura, gathered seven sushi chefs for a Japan Relief Fund-raising Event to be held on May 5 (see page 30).
A number of Seattle artists with connections to Japan got together to hold a fund-raising sales event called “Artists for Japan”on March 26-27 in Kobo at Higo. They donated all the artwork — paintings, drawings, calligraphy, sumi-e, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, prints and more. Kobo was packed on those days as people bought artwork, raising money for relief efforts.

Local moms are also on the move. Masami Suzuki, who lives in Shoreline and raises her 5- and 3-year-old sons, started the You can do it, Japan! project soon after the disaster. “Being in the US, I wanted to do something to help. Then it came to me in a flash, and I made some wristbands and T-shirts,” she said. The silicon wristbands and T-shirts feature the words “You can do it, Japan!” and a red sun. All the proceeds go to the Japan Red Cross. Other groups of moms at local nursery schools or play groups have been busy raising relief funds at garage sales and by selling Japanese treats.

While many Japanese restaurants are helping to raise funds, Uwajimaya supermarket and the Seattle Mariners have also been raising funds or matching donations. There are many events happening in our area, so please give what you can to support Tohoku.