ABOUT DONATE LINKS TAO AND FRIENDS CONTACT ACTIVITIES

WHEN JAPAN FACED UNPRECEDENTED DISASTERS CAUSED BY THE EARTHQUAKES AND TSUNAMI THAT STRUCK THE COUNTRY ON MARCH 11TH, 2011, A HUGE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT CAME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THROUGH A GREAT MANY CHARITABLE EVENTS AND FUNDRAISING ORGANIZATIONS.

IN NEW YORK, A SMALL GROUP OF OUR FRIENDS GOT TOGETHER AND THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO HELP. SO WE ASKED OUR FRIENDS IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY TO DONATE THEIR UNUSED FASHION ITEMS, AND HELD A FLEA MARKET IN THE BASEMENT OF SATURDAYS SURF NYC (Watch video). SUBSEQUENTLY, WE SET UP A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, (501(C)(3) APPROVAL PENDING) "SAVE JAPAN FOR AMERICA," IN ORDER TO DONATE MONEY TO OUR CHOICE OF RELIEF ORGANIZATION.

A YEAR LATER, WHILE MUCH RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE, MANY IN THE TOHOKU REGION STILL LIVE IN TEMPORARY HOUSING. IN FUKUSHIMA WHERE THERE WERE A SERIES OF EQUIPMENT FAILURES LEADING TO THE RELEASE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS, MANY ARE STILL LIVING WHERE THEY WERE EVACUATED TO AND ARE UNABLE TO GO HOME. THERE IS STILL MUCH NEED FOR FINANCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT, BUT THERE IS LITTLE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN SOME GREAT DOCUMENTARIES MADE ,THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF ART AND CRAFTS COMING OUT OF AFFECTED AREAS, AND THERE ARE STILL RECONSTRUCTIVE AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE. WHEN WE GOT TOGETHER AGAIN TO DISCUSS WHAT WE CAN DO A YEAR LATER, ONE THING WE THOUGHT OF WAS THE NEED FOR AN INFORMATION PORTAL ABOUT THESE THINGS.

THAT IS HOW WE CAME UP WITH THIS TUMBLR SITE. YOU CAN MAKE DONATIONS, LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, SEND MESSAGES TO PEOPLE IN AFFECTED AREAS. WE HOPE TO FUNCTION AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE GOINGS ON IN THE TOHOKU REGION AND ENGLISH SPEAKING READERS.


SAVE JAPAN OF AMERICA IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION. DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE.

ACTIVITIES

11th Mar 2013

Message from TAO

The anniversary has come again. 

It reminds us of sorrowful memories. 

But letting go of these memories would be even more sorrowful. 

It also reminds us of the generosity and kindness the world showed us.

We continue to pray. 

We continue to fight. 

We continue to move forward. 

The cherry blossom season is around the corner. 

8th Jul 2012

Summer Festivals in the Tohoku region

If you want to support the TOHOKU region by visiting there, here’s the list of summer festivals.  

9th May 2012

Tao Blog 3: Children’s Day

May 5th was KODOMONO-HI, Children’s Day, in Japan.

It is public holiday and the original idea was to wish healthy growth for boys (For girls, we have a separate event called HINA-MATSURI on March 3th).

People put up carp streamers in the domestic yard, and helmet, armor, etc. inside of their houses.

I wish happiness and health for all the children in the world.

1st May 2012

We sell charity prints: Peter Sutherland “99 bottles”

San Francisco, CA
2007
digital c print
16x20 framed
edition of 5
US$ 750 

Please contact us for further inquiries.

15th Apr 2012

Tao Blog 02:

The beautiful cherry blossom is healing our hearts.

In Tokyo

April 16, 2012

5th Apr 2012

Project: Deliver Hope

The team behind DELIVER HOPE, a short documentary about the newspaper Ishinomaki Nichinichi, which delivered hand-written newspapers to emergency shelters after the disaster, is trying to raise funds for the paper’s soccer team so that they can repair their soccer field.


28th Mar 2012

Fashion Girls For Japan is back

60+ designers are joining the second round of Fashion Girls For Japan to be held on March 31st and April 1st, with each one contributing  a rolling rack.  This year, there will be menswear, accessories and jewelry.  The participating designers include Alexander Wang, Doo Ri, Proenza Schouler, Thakoon and many more.
For more information: http://www.fashiongirlsforjapan.com/

22nd Mar 2012

Ishinomaki Journal

On March 11th 2012, photographer David Perez Shadi recounted his visit to Ishinomaki. 

http://shadinyc.blogspot.com/2012/03/life-goes-on-in-wake-of-311.html

21st Mar 2012

Tao Blog:

After a year, we keep seeing people supporting Japan.

The word “thank you” doesn’t seem to be enough to express what we feel.

@agnes b in Paris 

5/3/2012

21st Mar 2012

Music: The Lifelines [J-MELO opening theme(the Tohoku Earthquake charity song)]

You can still buy this song and the proceeds go to the affected areas through Central Community Chest of Japan.  The lifelines is a collaboration project of four artists, ☆Taku Takahashi (m-flo), Maynard Plant (blanc./MONKEY Majik), WISE and May J. In addition, children from the choir club of an elementary school in Fukushima participated for the chorus.  

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/may-j./id299091012

20th Mar 2012

Negative: Nothing is a documentary about a Swiss travel agent who decided to travel across Japan on foot. 

http://negativenothing.com/
17th Mar 2012

Charity Print: Adrian Gaut

Size: 16 x 20" Edition: 5 (un framed)

Size: 16 x 20”

Edition: 5

(not framed)

11th Mar 2012

Charity Print: Rinko Kawauchi “Untitled (Glass), 2011”

Photos by Rinko Kawauchi taken in affected areas

CHARITY

Untitled (Glass), 2011

Rinko Kawauchi

Digital Chromogenic Print

40” x 40”

Edition 10

USD 3500

11th Mar 2012

Charity Print: Rinko Kawauchi “Untitled (Dove), 2011”

Photos by Rinko Kawauchi taken in affected areas

CHARITY

Untitled (Dove), 2011

Rinko Kawauchi

Digital Chromogenic Print

40” x 40”

Edition 10

USD 3500

11th Mar 2012

Charity Print: Rinko Kawauchi “Untitled (Road), 2011”

Photos by Rinko Kawauchi taken in affected areas

CHARITY

Untitled (Road), 2011

Rinko Kawauchi

Digital Chromogenic Print

40” x 40”

Edition 10

USD 3500

TAO AND FRIENDS

TAO OKAMOTO IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED MODEL WHO HAS WALKED ON MANY RUNWAYS AND PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS CAMPAIGNS. BORN AND RAISED IN JAPAN, SHE STARTED TO WORK AS A MODEL AT THE AGE OF 14 AND STUDIED IN GREAT BRITAIN BEFORE MAKING HER INTERNATIONAL DEBUT IN 2006. IN 2010, SHE WAS SELECTED TO BE ONE OF THE "WOMEN OF THE YEAR" BY VOGUE NIPPON.

AKARI ENDO-GAUT IS A FREELANCE FASHION EDITOR AND STYLIST. HAVING BEEN EDUCATED IN TOKYO AND PARIS, SHE TRAVELS BETWEEN PARIS, NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES, WHILE SHE CONSIDERS NEW YORK HER HOME WHERE SHE LIVES WITH HER PHOTOGRAPHER HUSBAND AND A LAKELAND TERRIER. SHE WORKS FOR NUMEROUS MAGAZINES AND DESIGNERS AS WELL AS ADVERTISING AGENCIES.

KIMI SUZUKI IS A PR LIAISON FOR THE TOKYO BASED PR COMPANY BRAND NEWS, WHICH REPRESENTS MANY NEW YORK BASED DESIGNERS AND BRANDS. SHE ALSO WORKS AS A PRODUCTION COORDINATOR, PROVIDING SERVICES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PHOTO SHOOTS, SEMINARS AND OTHER VARIOUS EVENTS FOR JAPANESE MEDIA COMPANIES.

YU YAMAGUCHI IS THE OWNER OF MOUNTAIN FOLD GALLERY. SHE HAS BEEN WORKING FOR GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS BOTH IN TOKYO AND NEW YORK, INCLUDING PH GALLERY IN CHELSEA WHERE SHE WORKED AS THE DIRECTOR. SHE IS ALSO ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF PERISCOPE, A NEW DIGITAL MAGAZINE, SLATED FOR RELEASE IN JAPAN AND THE U.S THIS YEAR.

YUMIKO SAKUMA IS A WRITER WHO WORKS FOR NUMEROUS JAPANESE FASHION AND LIFESTYLE MAGAZINES. AFTER WORKING FOR NEWS MEDIA, SHE BECAME FREELANCE TO PURSUE HER PASSION FOR WRITING ABOUT PEOPLE, ART AND CULTURE. SHE IS ALSO ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF PERISCOPE.

SAKAE TAKUSHIMA IS A PARTNER OF MONITOR CAPITAL, LLC WHICH PROVIDES MARKETING AND INVESTOR RELATIONS SERVICES TO HEDGE FUNDS AND PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS. ORIGINALLY FROM TOKYO, SHE HAS BEEN IN THE US FOR 25 YEARS.


LINKS

Organizations you can donate to:

Organizations you can donate to with specific aims:

  • Higashi Nihon Daishinsai Kodomo Mirai Kikin

    http://www.mirai-kikin.com/en/index.html

    The organization was set up after the events of March 11 and it aims to provide children who have lost one or both parents with financial support.

  • Archi+ Aid (Only in Japanese)

    http://archiaid.org/

    The organization was established by a group of architects and its goal is to help people in affected areas by providing professional help in reconstructing efforts.

  • Beyond Tomorrow

    http://www.beyond-tomorrow.org/en/concept/index.html

    It's aim is to help young people in Tohoku through scholarships and mentoring programs.

  • We Care Japan

    http://www.wecarejapan.org/#!en

    The organization was established to connect individual projects and requests for funding with donors.

  • i-kifu

    http://www.ikifu.org/

    i-Kifu is a social network platform that connects donors to projects in need of financial support including many that involve affected regions in Tohoku as well as many other places in the world.

CONTACT

WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF: