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.
The calendar consists of photos taken in affected areas by four different photographers.
GOODS
http://www.lozenup.com/index.php?/publications/one-year-for-japan/
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.
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)
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
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.
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