One Year Later…
Please see the following for information and a list of events around our regional area in regards to the anniversary date of the Great East Japan Earthquake on 3/11/11.
- Kizuna – One Year Later
Saturday, March 10th
Gather to show support for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Meet at the Spirit of Peace statue and we will fold cranes for hope and peace.
Where: Lyndale Park Peace Garden – 4214 Roseway Road / Minneapolis, MN
Time: 6 pm-7ish pm
Free Admission - A wonderful Japanese-English Bilingual page, this website was made for the memories of many in Japan of the earthquake and tsunami.
- Kizuna Project (Pictures From Children in Affected Areas)
The Kizuna project, supported by Consulate General of Japan at Chicago, is an exhibition of pictures drawn by children from the areas effected by the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. We would like to share the thanks and appreciation of these children and their families to all who helped and donated last year. Students from six different elementary schools from the towns of Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture; Matsushima-City in the Nobiru area, Miyagi Prefecture; and the village of Iitate, Fukushima Prefecture drew pictures. The themes are “Thank you, people from around the world”, “Myself in 10 years”, and “Things I want to do”. These pictures were displayed with encouraging photos and messages from around the world at Global Festival Japan in Tokyo – Hibiya park and at World Collaboration Festival in Nagoya.Japan America Society of Minnesota would like to express “Thank you” to everyone who supported the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami relief efforts by displaying these pictures at Japanese Restaurants and Japanese item stores that are currently contributing to JASM.
We thank our corporate members for supporting this project. Please visit these Japanese Restaurants and Japanese item stores, and please enjoy the children’s art full of their hopes. This exhibition will be held from March 19th until 31st at the venues below.
-Kikugawa at Riverplace (43 Main Street SE / Minneapolis, MN 55414 / 612-378-3006)
-Sakura St.Paul (350 Saint Peter St # 195 / Saint Paul, MN 55102 / 651-224-0185)
-Tomodachi Rosedale Center (156 Rosedale Shopping Center / Roseville, MN 55113 / 651-631-1777)
-Origami Minneapolis Downtown (30 North 1st Street / Minneapolis, MN 55401 / 612-333-8430 - A Year After the Quake, a Moment of Silence for Japan
The first foreshocks came on March 9, 2011. Two days later, the fifth-largest earthquake in modern history struck about 45 miles off the coast of Sendai, Japan, unleashing a cascading series of disasters: broken buildings and infrastructure, a massive tsunami, and eventual meltdowns at several nuclear reactors. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives. Hundreds of thousands were displaced. Entire villages were swept away.The Japanese people will be recovering from this catastrophe for years to come. For those of us outside of Japan, however, it’s all too easy to forget. That’s why, to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami, GOOD will join the Japan Society of New York in observing a moment of silence led by Ambassador Shigeyuki Hiroki, Japan’s consul general in New York, at 2:46 p.m. this Sunday, March 11. We invite you to join us, wherever you are. At 2:46 p.m. in your time zone, take a minute to reflect on the incredible challenge facing Japan. Then let the country’s people know they still have your support on Twitter with the hashtag #oneyearlater.
If you’re in New York, the Japan Society is holding a series of events and film screenings on Sunday, and a panel discussion about recovery efforts in the region next Tuesday. Or donate funds to support those efforts—the need remains great.
- St. Cloud Benefit Concert Remembers Anniversary of Japan Tsunami
To remember the one year anniversary of the disastrous earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan, the St. Cloud State Wind Ensemble will be performing a benefit concert.Called “Ganbare Japan,” the concert will feature American classics and Japanese band pieces by Soichi Konagaya and Toshio Mashima. A lobby display will also show Japanese festival customs, attire, and traditions.
Proceeds from the concert will go to Crash Japan, an organization of Tokyo churches that provides relief services.
The concert is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, at the Kimberly Ritsche Auditorium.
Regional Chicago Events
- What March 11 Means To Me: Join the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Chicago on March 10-11 for a two-day symposium featuring five public intellectuals and activists from Japan, each speaking about the personal and social impact of last year’s earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. For more information and a detailed schedule, visit their website.
- Kizuna: The Bonds of Emotion – Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Photography Exhibit: Chicago Sister Cities International is currently developing an exhibit of photographs chronicling the devastation and recovery efforts from The Nikkei, the leading Japanese business newspaper. These photos will be on display March 12-16 at the Illinois Thompson Center (100 E. Randolph) and March 21-31 at Block 37 (180 N. State). Both exhibits are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Naomi Hattori at nhattori@chicagosistercities.com
- Japan Moving Forward Lecture: On Thursday, March 15, at 6pm, Mr. Tatsuhiro Shindo, Executive Director of JETRO Chicago, will discuss how Japan is moving forward, the economic impact of the disaster, and the most recent recovery efforts. The program is free, but advance registration is required. To reserve your seat, please email Satoko Ogi at ogi@jaschicago.org or call 312-263-3049 by 9am this Tuesday, March 13.
- Photohoku Initiative: Photohoku is a project which aims to provide families in the Tohoku region a chance to re-start their family photo albums that have been destroyed by the earthquake/tsunami disaster of March 11, 2011. If you or someone you know has a digital camera (and charger) that is no longer being used, please consider donating it to PHOTOHOKU. Learn more at http://www.photohoku.org.