Up above is a link to a video saying arigato (thank you) from some of the citizens of Japan for the assistance after their 3/11/11 devastating 9.0 earthquake/massive tsunami last year on March 11, 2011. More about this tragedy, read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Japan_earthquake.

The Japanese National Police Agency confirmed 15,848 deaths, 6,011 injured, and 3,305 people missing across eighteen prefectures, as well as over 125,000 buildings damaged or destroyed.

My 2nd/3rd cousins in Sendai survived and are fine (my maternal grandparents emigrated from that part of Japan to the Trust Territory of Hawaii in 1910).

And tomorrow, the Japanese Association of Tucson is having a Spring pot luck picnic at ramada #1 at Ft. Lowell Park (NE corner of Glenn, 2900 N. Craycroft Rd.), 11 to 2 p.m. Please send the name of all the participants from your group and/or family by e-mail (jpnassoctucson@gmail.com if you are planning on attending. They would like to make sure to prepare enough beverages).

And here’s the link (click here) for “The Tsunami & the Cherry Blossom” documentary film for the 2012 Academy Awards, nominated for best foreign language film.

Survivors in the areas hardest hit by Japan’s recent tsunami find the courage to revive and rebuild as cherry blossom season begins.

A stunning visual poem about the ephemeral nature of life and the healing power of Japan’s most beloved flower.

Directed by Academy Award Nominated filmmaker Lucy Walker (Waste Land), featuring photographyby Aaron Phillips and music by Moby.

And on the local scene, taiko drumming group Odaiko Sonora is releasing a children’s book entitled “Asako, The Girl who Saved Her Village” (about a tsunami) to commemorate the 3/11/11 tragedy. That release event is today at 4 pm. at the Tucson Festival of Books, Diamond Children’s Story Telling Stage.

The Japanese Association of Tucson (JAT) (http://www.geocities.jp/jpntus/) is having a picnic/bake-craft-yard sale and disaster relief fundraiser (donation box) on Sunday April 10, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The March 11, 2011 earthquake (9.0 magnitude) and subsequent tsunami devastated northeastern Japan.

This event will be at Sushi Yukari, a Japanese restaurant at 5655 E. River Rd. # 151 in Tucson. The restaurant is on the NE corner of River and Craycroft.

Activities for children (i.e. face painting ,balloon creations, etc.) will also be offered.

Food (Yakisoba, Takoyaki, and Curry Rice) will be available for purchase. Drinks will be provided by the JAT. Otherwise no entrance fee to this event.

They will be collecting relief supplies for World Care (http://www.worldcare.org/index.html).

A previous fundraising event on March 19 netted over $10,000 to date. Photos at their Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60510297352&v=photos, including photos of Japanese taiko drumming and bon dancing.

Email: jpnassoctucson@yahoo.co.jp.

For other upcoming fundraising events for Japan disaster relief, read my previous blog (click here).

Note: large 7.1 after-shock earthquake hit the same area of Japan on April 7. One of my friends send me this USGS link listing all earthquakes in the last 7 days:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

Please help with the relief efforts on behalf of all the victims & survivors of the large 9.0 earthquake & tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. Here’s how to help by attending:

JAPAN DISASTER RELIEF CONCERT

Saturday, March 26, 2011 – 4PM

Rincon Congregational United Church of Christ
122 North Craycroft Road (north of Broadway)
www.rinconucc.org

free concert – collecting donations

Organized by Toru & Laura Tagawa / Emma Noël Votapek / Keitaro Harada

Please join us at Rincon Congregational United Church of Christ Saturday,
March 26, 2011 at 4pm in a concert to help raise funds to aid the relief
agencies currently working in Japan. 100% of the donations received will
be sent to the JAPANESE RED CROSS SOCIETY.

Performers include members of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra & Arizona
Opera Orchestra, University of Arizona School of Music Students &
Professors and professional musicians of Tucson and Phoenix, AZ.

Aaron Boyd | Paula Fan | Laura Tagawa | Toru Tagawa | Emma Noël Votapek | Keitaro Harada | Neil Tatman |Mutsuko Tatman | Victoria Hauk | Jonathan Wintringham | Yuri Chayama | Aika Tatebe | Mari Kaneta | and many more…

Special Thanks to University of Arizona Department of East Asian Studies, School of Music & Japanese Student Association | Rincon Congregational United Church of Christ | Suzuki-kai | Yamato Japanese Restaurant |Sushi Yukari | The Japanese Association of Tucson | Dance For A Cause.

For other relief efforts, log onto Southern Arizona Association for Japanese Education website (click here). Fundraising will be occurring at upcoming events in April:

–Suzuyuki Kai Traditional Japanese Dance “Dance of Eternity” on April 17 at Green Fields Country Day School, 2 p.m.

–9th Annual Tucson Japanese Speech Contest on April 23, at PCC Downtown campus, 12 to 5 p.m.

For my previous blog “Please help Japan” click here, about purchasing limited edition Noh mask t-shirts.

4/8/11 UPDATE on Japan Disaster Relief efforts:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2011/04/08/japanese-association-picnicfundraiser-for-japan-disaster-relief/