Just met Junko Suzuki Parsons and her friends at Mari Kawawa’s fundraiser “Twilight COncert on the Bay”, Saturday, April 27th, 2013 in Tiburon, CA, featuring the Edgewood Trio. Junko’s team is helping promote the Kids Orchestra Japan Project, an exchange program of youths in Japan and the U.S. collaborating with music. Their goal is to connect the kids in the affected areas in the Tohoku area of Japan to help them through these challenging times. Will be updating more about their progress.
http://cyclub.me
Tag Archives: san francisco
Kids Orchestra Japan Project
Filed under children, Concert, Donations, Fundraiser, humanitarian relief
Give2Asia hosts NGOs working in the Tohoku region
I was honored to be invited to a special luncheon today hosted by Give2Asia http://www.give2asia.org in San Francisco. 4 NGOs from the Tohoku area were invited to share their experiences in the rebuild and relief effort in the areas affected by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant failure.
It was heartwarming to hear their stories and their challenges. Yet their commitment showed the strength and resiliency of the Japanese people.
Still one of the messages rang clear: many felt uncertainty in regards to their future and that part of their (NGOs) mission is to give hope to the people who had lost loved ones, their homes, jobs, and any sense of normalcy. There are still over 300,000 people living in temporary housing. The population in some of the towns have decreased to 70% as people, especially the young, moved out to find jobs in Tokyo and other areas. The once vibrant fishing industry in Ishinomaki is now non-existant. Acres and acres of farmland are ruined as agriculture in certain areas has been abandoned.
Many outsiders fear traveling to the region due to the radiation contamination from the Fukushima power plants. The long term economic impact is yet to be realized.
It is my hope that on my trip to the Tohoku area, I can bring a sense of support and hope to the people. As one of the executives from the Give2Asia said, “working in the nonprofit sector to help the rebuild and relief effort, you have to be an optimist”. Bringing a sense of hope to the people, that by working together, there will be a better tomorrow.
Today was such an emotional, moving experience. Thank you Gillian Ira Yeoh and Give2Asia. I look forward to meeting some of the NGOs in Japan next week.
Filed under earthquake, Foundations, Fundraiser, humanitarian relief, Tsunami, Uncategorized
JCCCNC Sake Day: A Toast to Recovery
Saturday, October 1, 2011, 4:00-8:00 p.m.
his year, True Sake’s annual “Nihonshu no Hi,” the day of sake in Japan, will benefit the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund (NJERF) created by the JCCCNC. A Toast to Recovery will feature the flavors and taste of the Tohoku region in Japan. Guests will have the opportunity to try select sake from the Tohoku prefecture and Yoshi’s Chef Sho Kamio will prepare special comfort foods of the region. You can also bid on rare sake and specialty items to support NJERF.
Location: JCCCNC
Fees: Early Bird – $65 (91-9/25)
Regular – $75 (9/26-9/30)
Door – $80 (10/1)
Presented by True Sake and JCCCNC for the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund with support from Yoshi’s San Francisco, Chef Sho Kamio, the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco and JETRO.
More info: Please call True Sake at (415) 355-9555
How do I sign up?
Buy tickets at sakeday.com & http://sakeday2011.eventbrite.com/
Filed under Donations, earthquake, economic, Fundraiser, Japan, japan crisis, Tsunami
Helping Japan #5 is K-20: The Fiend with 20 Faces!
K-20: The Fiend with 20 Faces!
Sunday, 7/24 @ 5pm
at VIZ Cinema
1746 Post. St. San Francisco
NEW PEOPLE’s 5th fundraiser film for the tsunami and earthquake victims of Japan is Japan’s all-time favorite villain K-20. Starring pan-Asian sensation Takeshi Kaneshiro!
**The admission is free with suggested donations from $10 that could be donated at VIZ Cinema or through our online box office ( For online purchases, online service fee will be charged. ) More donation could be made at VIZ Cinema on the day of show. Thank you!
100% of proceeds will be donated to EARTH DAY TOKYO TOWER of Japan. Earth Day Tokyo Tower Volunteer Center started its activities In response to the Northeastern Japan’s tsunami and earthquake devastation on March 11, 2011. The group sends volunteers into the devastated area to clean up, make food, hold events to cheer up children, setting up food courts, and more. The weekend volunteers are sent to the hard hit regions on buses running on used tempura oil.
It is 1949 in Japan, in a world where World War II never happened and the nobility system is still in place. Heikichi, a circus acrobat, is deceived by “The Fiend (Kaijin) with Twenty Faces”, a.k.a. K-20, and is set up to take the fall for the phantom thief. Now, Heikichi must wage war against K-20. Starring Takeshi Kaneshiro, Takako Matsu, and Toru Nakamura. Based on the bestseller mystery novel series by Ranpo Edogawa.
Filed under Donations, earthquake, Events, Fundraiser, Japan, japan crisis, Tsunami
Hello Artists From the Heart!
We’re getting excited about our big weekend event coming up: ”Artists From the Heart”. It’s in a few days! A favor to ask (if you haven’t done so already): do you know how to post this event on Facebook (“wall”, a “note”, and/ or an “event”?). If you do please help us generate a community buzz. As all the artists participants create the buzz together, we’ll all benefit:
- a larger audience, more tickets sold
- more artwork, jewelry, and arts & crafts sold
- more sushi sold (yes- the Nikkei team at the senior center is “rolling” for the “Cause”!)
- more aide to the Japan for healing.
Robert & Nancy
Eth-Noh-Tec
United States of Asian America Festival Presented by Eth-Noh-Tec & Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center
Sat. May 21, 5:00 pm- 10:00 pm
Nihonmachi Terrace
1615 Sutter Street, Japan-Town San Francisco
Entry (sliding scale donation): $5- $100
Proceeds go to the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund
Contact: 415-282-8705; or www.ethnohtec.org
Come to an afternoon and evening of Performances, Food and an Arts Marketplace to both honor the Asian Heritage Month of May and to raise funds for the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund sponsored by Eth-Noh-Tec and APICC featuring:
ARTS MARKETPLACE: 5 pm
Leon Sun: photography
Nancy Hom: visual arts
Pam Wu: knitted scarves & sweaters
Ellen Bepp: clothing, mix media
Anna Wong: silk scarves
Rich Tokeshi, Holly Calica, Sabrena Taylor: silkscreen art
Masaki Mimoto: hand made scarves & jewelry
Sandy Wong: baby quilts, fabric activity books
Leslie Yee Murata: Jewelry
Kiyomi Koide: ceramics
Pamela Ybanez: artwork
and more…
FOOD: Sushi by Nihonmachi Terrace Food Team
EXHIBIT: Tibetan Memorial Quilts on display 5 pm
SHOW: 7 pm
Sushi Cal Band: Wes Ueunten and the Neo-Traditional Okinawan Folk Band.
Karma Intertwined: Tsering Wangmo, Leon Sun, Nancy Hom, Bonnie Kwong
GAPA Men’s Chorus: Pan-Asian, Multi-lingual Harmonies
Eth-Noh-Tec Storytellers: Pan-Asian-American Kinetic Story Theater
Filed under Concert, Donations, earthquake, Events, Fundraiser, Japan
Art at Night Chinese Culture Center
Thursday, May 19, 2011.
5pm
A benefit for the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund
750 Kearny St. San Francisco
Featuring art by Zheng Chongbin
& jazz by the Francis Wong Unit
Asian Improv aRts, Francis Wong
On Thursday May 19, the Chinese Culture Center will present its first installment of Art at Night, a series dedicated to providing the community with space to enjoy great art and great food, and contribute to a great cause. This inaugural event will pair the opening of the Center’s 2011 XianRui (Fresharp) artist’s series, Zheng Chongbin’s White Ink, with an exclusive concert, Sumie Sounds, by renowned jazz ensemble, the Francis Wong Unit. Tickets to Sumie Sounds are $25 and include light hors d’ oeuvres, a glass of wine and entry for an 8pm raffle generously sponsored by the Hilton San Francisco Financial District hotel. The winner and a guest will receive complimentary airfare for two and a 2 night stay in the Hilton San Diego Bayfront (must be present to win).
All proceeds will benefit the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund created by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC). Inspired by the fluidity, innovation, and pulse of ink painting, this event pays homage to shared Japanese and Chinese artistic traditions and to Asian American community solidarity.
http://www.c-c-c.org/archives/2011/04/26/art-at-night/
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=145277148874925
Filed under Concert, Donations, earthquake, Events, Fundraiser, Japan
Yoshi’s Japan Relief Benefit T-Shirt
We hope you will join together with Yoshi’s to raise money for Japan in their monumental time of need, with a goal of raising money to aid in the rebuilding of cities, towns, farms, and helping individual growers, farmers, producers and fishermen. 100% of net proceeds from the sale of this tee will go to the American Red Cross.
Yoshi’s
Filed under Donations, Fundraiser, Japan
