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Please help Japan

by on Mar. 21, 2011, under Arts, Life, Politics

Earthquake Relief Fundraiser
Southern Arizona Association for Japanese Education (SAAJE) is selling limited edition t-shirts for $20 with a message of hope from Tucson to Japan.

100% of the sales will go to the Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles for distribution to the affected areas. Click on the SAAJE website here as to how to order the t-shirts (and other ways to help the disaster relief efforts).

The t-shirt image is of Hannya, a traditional Noh theater mask, which refers to “tragic or evil circumstances”, and to the Heart Sutra, which teaches that “understanding and acceptance can triumph over adversity” such as this earthquake/tsunami, which occurred on March 11, 2011.

The top line reads “Be Strong Japan!”, “Be Strong Tohoku! (northern Japan).
The bottom line reads “From Tucson, Arizona”.

Shirts will also be available at:
9th Annual Tucson Japanese Speech Contest
Saturday 4/23 at Pima Community College’s Downtown Campus
12:00 – 5:00pm

The March 11, 2011 9.0 earthquake immediately caused up to 10 meter high tsunami waves which went 6 miles inland, (excerpt below from wiwkipedia). It was probably Japan’s strongest earthquake.

The Japanese National Police Agency has officially confirmed 8,450 deaths,2,701 injured,and 12,909 people missing across eighteen prefectures, as well as over 125,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. The earthquake and tsunami caused extensive and severe structural damage in Japan, including heavy damage to roads and railways as well as fires in many areas, and a dam collapse. Around 4.4 million households in northeastern Japan were left without electricity and 1.5 million without water.Many electrical generators were taken down, and at least three nuclear reactors suffered explosions due to hydrogen gas that had built up within their outer containment buildings. On 18 March, International Atomic Energy Agency Chief Yukiya Amano described the crisis as “extremely serious.” Residents within a 20 km (12 mi) radius of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant and a 10 km (6 mi) radius of the Fukushima II Nuclear Power Plant were evacuated.

And I still haven’t heard any word of 2nd cousins in the Sendai area. My maternal grandparents Chuzo & Chiyo Koseki immigrated to the Trust Territory of Hawaii from the Miyagi Prefecture in 1910. Pray for the victims of this tremendous tragedy and please help if you can.

3/22/11 UPDATE: My 2nd & 3rd cousins & their families are fine, but worried about reports of the radiation levels from the Fukushima nuclear plants. Thank you for those who have expressed concern.

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  • Fraser007

    The TV Media needs to do more coverage. I didnt know the figures of homeless/out of power numbers until just last night. I knew it was high but we need to have better data. I dont have a complete cable coverage but more is needed.
    100,000 Japanese troops are being sent there. Thats almost one half of their Army. Its that bad.

  • Carolyn Classen

    Yes, I fear that the true #s of homeless & injured survivors are not being reported, as an earthquake & tsunami of that magnitude must be devastating, especially in the winter/early spring time.  The videos are showing that it is still very cold in northeastern Japan.  Thanks for your comment.

  • Ernie McCray

    It’s going to be a long journey but I think, especially due to the Japanese people’s resilience and approach to life, that they, with the world’s help, will make some kind of good rise from such a tragedy.
    I hope good news comes your way regarding your cousins. My help is on the way.

    • Carolyn Classen

      Right, we Japanese are taught “shikata ga nai” (it can not be helped) in enduring life’s troubles and traumas.  Many thanks for your support & help Ernie.

  • Kathy

    Oh, Carolyn, we are sending our good thoughts to you, your extended family and all the Japanese people.  Please keep us posted and thank you for letting us know about the t-shirts.

  • alohapuna

    My heart aches not only over the unimaginable suffering of  the victims but for all the people of Japan who must be devastated by this disaster of such magnitude.
    Americans have much to learn from the Japanese people by their response to this terrible disaster.

  • Carolyn Classen

    Thanks for all your kind messages.  We are all praying for the survival of the victims and their families.  Please help in any way you can.

  • Pat McKnight

    Dear Carolyn, It has been too many years since we last talked. I am glad that your cousins have been located and are presently okay. I, too, worry about the long term effects of radiation from Fukushima. I attended the wonderful concert held at Rincon Congregational Church on March 26 & talked briefly with the organizers. And it was there that I learned about Dance for a Cause, a wonderful organization. I wanted to learn more, so looked it up online — and found you as well! Aloha nui loa, Pat

    • Carolyn Classen

      Thanks Pat for your kind words.  Glad you enjoyed the concert yesterday — it was well done, and standing room only in the back of the church.

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