Taylor Anderson’s high school establishes fund in her honor
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St. Catherine’s High School in Richmond, VA has set up a fund in honor of Ishinomaki JET Taylor Anderson who attended St. Catherine’, according to an article in the The Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The below is from the fund website (www.st.catherines.org/tayloranderson):
“The St. Catherine’s community is mourning the loss of Taylor Lane Anderson ’04. The Anderson family confirmed that their daughter’s body was found on March 21 in Japan. Our School family is devastated by this discovery.
Taylor was a four-year day student who quickly became involved in school activities after she arrived in the ninth grade. She was Co-Editor of the Atelier and a member of Model UN. Taylor touched many hearts while at St. Catherine’s, taking her unique gifts and talents to the country of Japan. As part of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, Taylor spent the past two years teaching English to kindergarten, lower school and junior high school students in the coastal city of Ishinomaki. She was last seen after the March 11 earthquake, but before the tsunami devastated the coast of Japan.
St. Catherine’s is so proud of Taylor for living the School’s motto, “What we keep we lose; only what we give remains our own.” She exemplified what it means to be a St. Catherine’s alumna and she will long live as a role model for our community. Taylor touched the hearts and lives of so many people at St. Catherine’s. Circumstances like these, while unimaginably sad, remind us of the value and the power of faith, family and friendship.
The School has established the Taylor Anderson ’04 Memorial Gift Fund. All money raised will be given in Taylor’s memory to benefit the relief efforts in Japan, the country she loved so dearly. St. Catherine’s will work with the Anderson family to direct the funds in the way that best honors Taylor’s legacy. Our hope is to help with the rebuilding of the schools in the region where Taylor taught.
Please leave your thoughts, memories and condolences below and they will be shared with the Anderson family.”
NHK TV today showed a video (in Japanese) of Taylor Anderson’s father Andy Anderson visiting Ishinomaki and laying flowers where Taylor’s body was found. It’s very moving to hear her father say, “Taylor loved Ishinomaki, and we do too.” And as a JET it’s hard to look at the background scenery in the video and not feel that sense of familiarity that this could be any town in Japan.
Tokyo JET alum photojournalist seeks contact with displaced Tohoku JETs
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Thanks to Ed Snook of JETAA Tokyo for sharing this information:
JETAA Tokyo member Wes Cheek is planning on visiting the Tohoku region beginning Friday for a photojournalism assignment. He has expressed an interest in trying to get in touch with JETs who may have been displaced by the recent earthquake/tsunami. Additionally, Wes welcomes contact from any family or friends of JETs in Tohoku who would like him to try and get in touch with JETs.
- To contact Wes, you can e-mail Ed Snook at career [at] jetaa-tokyo.org.
- For updates on Wes and more information about his trip, go to Wes’ blog where you can find details and updates about his trip.
JETAA Northern California benefit raises over $7,000
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KTVU Morning News in San Francisco has a whole feature on JETAA Northern California’s fundraiser. SF Consulate JET Coordinator (and JET alum) Peter Weber is interviewed. I think I saw a brief shot of JETAA US Country Representative Rod McLeod. And it sounds like Canon Purdy may have been there as well.
Good work JETAA Northern California! Yoku ganbatta!
Click here for the video: http://www.ktvu.com/video/27302416/index.html
MSNBC: Family holds out hope for missing American teacher “Monty-san”
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The latest coverage of still unaccounted for Rikuzentakata-shi, Iwate-ken JET Montgomery “Monty” Dickson.
MSNBC: Family holds out hope for missing American teacher “Monty-san”
By Miranda Leitsinger, Senior Writer and Editor, msnbc.com
“Almost everyone in the town of Rikuzentakata on Japan’s northeast coast knew teacher Montgomery Dickson, or “Monty-san,” as the locals call him.
But the tall American hasn’t been heard from since the March 11 quake and tsunami slammed the northeastern coast of the island nation, and any surviving villagers in the town of 23,000 who might have spotted his familiar face apparently have left. An International Medical Corps team that visited Rikuzentakata in the wake of the double disaster found it “was completely destroyed by the tsunami and no persons were present. Showing the depth of the tsunami wave and extent of the destruction, water marks were observed at a height of up to 10 meters (nearly 33 feet) on the sides of hills.”
CLICK HERE for the full article and to read more about Monty.
Japan Society Round-up: Events to raise funds for disaster relief
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Japan America Societies around the country are organizing fundraising efforts to help the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. Here is a listing of various upcoming events for disaster relief gathered by JET alum Gail Meadows (ALT, Hiroshima-shi 2007-10). If your local Japan America Society is planning a fundraising event not listed here, please leave it in the comments!
What: Candlelight vigil- Where: Front steps of Thomas Worthington High School, 300 W. Granville Road, Worthington
- When: Thursday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m.
- Details: There will be music and a couple students speaking. Donations will be collected for the Red Cross fund for Japan.
- What: Soprano Seiko Lee Benefit Concert for Japanese Earthquake Relief
- Where: Dublin Recreation Center – Abbey Theater, 5600 Post Road, Dublin, Ohio
- When: Sunday, March 27 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
- Details: The performance will feature Kenichiro Matsuda (Columbus Symphony), Hanamizuki no Kai (Columbus Japanese Women’s Chorus) and Eiko Toyoda (piano). Tickets/Suggested Donation $20 per person or two for $30. 100% of all ticket sales and donations will go to the Red Cross Japanese Chapter and will be directly used to support victims in Fukushima Prefecture through the Seiko Lee Project staff members. There are only 200 seats available, so pre-ordering tickets is recommended. Contact Ms. Asako Kim at 614-560-7796, Akai Hana Restaurant or Tensuke Market for more information or to purchase tickets. There is an age limit of 7 years and older.
- What: Stand With Japan event
- Where: The grounds of the Washington Monument
- When: Thursday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m.
- Details: The National Cherry Blossom Festival, its partners, participants and supporters invite you to gather at the Washington Monument followed by a walk around the Tidal Basin in the spirit of hope and rebuilding. This will be an opportunity for people to unite and connect, as well as contribute to the Festival’s Japan relief efforts, directly supporting the American Red Cross and their Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund. Visit www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org for more information.
- What: Discussion forum about the earthquake
- Where: W.T. Young Library Auditorium of the University of Kentucky
- When: Monday, March 28 from 4:10 to 6:10 p.m.
- Details: The discussion forum will feature the following individuals, all of whom experienced the earthquake and/or saw its aftermath in Japan: Doug Slaymaker (Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures [MCLLC]), Keiko Tanaka (Community and Leadership Development) and Akiko Takenaka (History). In addition, the forum also will include Susan Gardner (Physics and Astronomy) and Dhananjay Ravat (Earth and Environmental Sciences). These panelists will explore issues pertaining to the earthquake from multiple perspectives. Masamichi (Marro) Inoue (MCLLC, Director of the Japan Studies Program) will introduce and moderate the discussion. This forum will be an occasion for information sharing, cross-cultural community building, and academic engagement in social issues. Donations to the Red Cross will be accepted. The forum is free and open to the public.
- What: Bluegrass Community Walk for Japan Relief
- Where: Coldstream Research Park in North Lexington
- When: Saturday, March 26 at 10 a.m.
- Details: Residents of the Bluegrass Region who wish to show their support for the disaster victims will come together for this free community event. Donations for Japan disaster relief will be accepted by the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross.
- What: Concert for Japan
- Where: Japan Society, 333 E. 47th St. between 1st and 2nd avenues
- When: Saturday, April 9, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Details: Twelve hours of music and special activities will benefit Japan Society’s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. 100% of proceeds from the event and tax-deductible contributions made on site to the relief fund will go to organizations that directly help victims recover from the earthquake and tsunami. With dozens of performances throughout the day, confirmed gala blocks feature Philip Glass & Hal Willner, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson and Zorn (starting at 1 p.m.), and Ryuichi Sakamoto and Bill Laswell and gigi band (starting at 6 p.m.). In addition to the music, there will be activities for all ages. Participants will have the chance to make origami cranes and washi lanterns, take basic Japanese language lessons and access to Japan Society’s current gallery exhibition, “By Bye Kitty!!! Between Heaven & Hell in Contemporary Japanese Art.” The entrance fee is $5. Gala blocks are $100 per block. For more information, click here.
- What: Japan Earthquake Relief Form and Update
- Where: Morrison & Foerster LLP, 425 Market St., 33F, San Francisco
- When: Monday, March 28, Noon to 2 p.m.
- Details: This free brown bag lunch meeting will focus on Japan Society earthquake and tsunami relief efforts and how the disaster may shape Japan’s future at home, regionally and globally. Dr. Barnett F. Baron, President and CEO of Give2Asia, will discuss his organizations work in the crisis, as well as the Japanese NPOs on the ground that Japan Society and Give2Asia are funding during this catastrophe. Dr. T.J. Pempel, Professor of Political Science at UC Berkeley, will provide a broader view of the long-term impacts. Advance registration required. For more information, click here.
- What: Japanese Dance Workshop
- Where: Asian American Cultural Center, 11713 Jollyville Road, Austin, Texas
- When: Saturday, March 26. Session 1 is 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. Session 2 is 3 to 4:15 p.m.
- Details: Learn Japanese folk dance during this workshop with kodo artist Chieko Kojima to raise funds for the earthquake and tsunami victims of Japan. The fee is $15 for JASGA members of $20 for non-members. The first session is for participants who have basic skills and knowledge of Japanese dance, and the second session is for beginners. For more information, click here.
Japan Times: U.S., U.K. teachers stay on to help care for evacuees
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This Japan Times article on 3 ALTs who have stayed on to help their towns post earthquake/tsunami appears to be about 3 JETs, though that’s not mentioned specifically in the article.
The English teachers listed are:
- Victor Kochaphum (Iwate, Tanohata)
- Kevin Blake (Iwate, Miyako)
- Paul Dixon (Iwate, Miyako)
Minasan arigatou. Ganbatte kudasai.
Please feel free to share additional stories and examples that you know of in the comments section of this post.
JetWit and the JET alum community want to know how JETs in all parts of Japan are doing in the wake of the earthquake, tsunami and radiation issues.
- Has your life been uprooted?
- Have things returned to some sort of normality? Are you still teaching every day?
- Has the radiation issue affected you or influenced any of your decisions?
- Have you moved to another part of Japan? Or left Japan?
- Are you involved in volunteering, fundraising or other disaster support activities?
- Are you housing JETs or evacuees?
- What’s next?
Whether dramatic or mundane or something in between, we want to hear about it. Please share any responses in the comments section of this post. Or feel free to email jetwit [at] jetwit.com.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu and hope everyone is getting on ok.
—Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, Kariya-shi, 1992-94)
Brooklyn, NY
CBS’s 60 Minutes recently aired a segment on the town of Matsushima which was wiped out by the tsunami. The segment includes an interview with an ALT named David (I can’t tell how to spell his last name) who gives a harrowing description of being in the school gym with students, teachers and parents when the tsunami hit and how he was able to hold on to the basketball hoop (the water was that high) and help pull a few students to safety.
The interview with David starts at about 6:24 into the video and includes video footage of the school, which looks very much like the schools we all taught at as JETs/ALTs.
Side note: Good feedback from a JETwit reader: “Thanks for the update and the link. Btw, not all JETs (or all of your readers) are ALTs.” The title of this post, which originally read “Matsushima JET,” has been changed accordingly.
Japan Center for international Exchange (JCIE/USA) Facebook page and Relief Fund
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Here’s a link to the Japan Center for International Exchange’s (JCIE/USA)
- Facebook page which may be a helpful resource for many
- Japan NGO Earthquake Relief & Recovery Fund (via Facebook)
Japan Center for International Exchange is an independent Japanese think tank focusing on US-Japan relations and issues. It’s worth noting that JET alum James Gannon (Ehime-ken, 1992-94) is the Executive Director of the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA) office in New York and has been playing a significant role in helping various Japan-related organizations to collaborate and coordinate fundraising efforts.
Just FYI, I got confirmation today that Montgomery “Monty” Dickson (Iwate-ken, Rikuzentakata-shi) (originally from Alaska) is in fact the only remaining missing JET. All other JETs have been accounted for.
Search efforts continue, and the JET and JET alumni communities continue to hope and pray.
Ganbatte kudasai, Monty, wherever you are.
Via a JET alum friend who has a colleague working in Tohoku:
“What is happening here is that among those affected by this disaster, hundreds of small self-help group are emerging in the shelters and elsewhere. This is really the resilience of Japanese people. Every day, TV program report those self-help volunteer group. Victims are helping each other, particularly those young people’s group are doing fantastic activities. However, I’m afraid that the fatigue syndrome will spread sooner or later and it is the time for the role of local NPOs to support those people become very important.”
Japan Times: How you can help – by JET alum Ashley Thompson
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A really helpful article in the Japan Times titled “How You Can Help” written by JET alum Ashley Thompson, who also writes survival tips and unique how-to’s about living in Japan at www.survivingnjapan.com. (http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110322a1.html)
A few readers have questions about donating supplies.
WA writes: “I have seen the tragic earthquake and tsunami incident that happened in Japan. I would love to donate food and clothes and help out as much as I can. Please tell me where I can send supplies.”
And JF: “We are a primary school in the U.K. with a new school logo and are therefore changing our school uniforms. We have an enormous amount of clothing: sweatshirts, polo shirts, etc. that we would like to donate.”
From IF: “I would like to find out a way to donate clothes and other articles to people in need in Japan. I live in Heidelberg, Germany.
“The items I have are in very good condition and others are new. Could you please tell me how to proceed?”
Right now, most organizations are strictly asking for monetary donations, not clothing or supplies. The general advice is to donate money to organizations that can quickly and easily locate and deliver necessary items to disaster-hit areas. Particularly if you live outside of Japan, the best way you can help is to donate money through a trusted charity of your choice, or one that is Japan-specific, such as the Japanese Red Cross Society, Salvation Army Japan, Oxfam Japan, JEN, Jhelp and Second Harvest Japan, to name a few. There are many more but most require Japanese- language ability to navigate online.
Cash and checks can also be sent by registered mail to The Japan Times Readers’ Fund, The Japan Times, 4-5-4 Shibaura, Minato Ward, Tokyo 108-8071, with checks payable to The Japan Times Readers’ Fund. Donations will be used to support the work of Red Cross Japan and the Japan Emergency Team, operated by Jhelp.
You may also want to search online for a group in your region that may have connections with an organization in Japan and is accepting supplies for donation. If you are currently in Japan, you can donate monetarily to any of the organizations above, an organization of your choice, or even through local convenience stores and similar venues. If you’d like to donate food or supplies, Second Harvest Japan is accepting a long list of items such as canned or packaged food, toilet paper, toiletries, over-the-counter medicines, sleeping bags, etc. You can find a comprehensive list and mailing address on the Second Harvest Japan websitee.
Jhelp is also accepting donations for food and certain supplies — see their website for more information. Also, try contacting your local prefectural office, city hall or volunteer office in Japan. Many places are collecting supplies such as blankets, diapers, and toiletries. Please do not deliver supplies yourself — this creates confusion, adds to traffic congestion, uses much-needed fuel, and makes it more difficult for relief supplies to reach disaster areas.
On the topic of monetary donations, DG writes: “I live in Toronto, Canada, and wish to send my sympathies and condolences for the loss of life and property to the Japanese people.
“I would also like to donate money to a relief effort. I know that some relief agencies are less principled than others, and divert funds to their own pockets. Are there any you would recommend?”
And PD is wondering: “I am seeking a small NGO based in Japan that is sending responders. As the leader of a national religious organization, it is my intent to send the funds we collect to Japan for use by Japanese responders.
“Can you help us identify a place where our funding could help a small group providing services to those in need? Perhaps a shelter, food operation or clinic?”
Whenever you donate money, you should ensure the organization is reputable, trustworthy and has a good track record. If looking for a “small” nonprofit organization, be extra careful and confirm it’s not a scam.
The best approach to finding a charitable organization that deserves your gift is to research and decide for yourself which organization is best. Charity Navigator/ provides listings of many charities with specific financial information and rankings. Though you won’t find Japan-specific organizations, many of these are accepting donations for the Japan relief effort or will donate directly to a Japanese charity (such as the Japanese Red Cross Society).
In addition to those mentioned earlier, other reputable and frequently recommended charities in Japan include Global Giving, Save the Children, World Vision, Mercy Corps and UNICEF. Some of these charities have financial information in English, but many do not. There are far more small organizations in Japan, but again, most require Japanese-language ability to navigate online.
Readers P and N write: “We are so sad at what has happened in Japan and we pray for the people every day.
“We are retired and have a spare room and could easily take in a small family until things settle down.”
And from RJ: “My family is concerned about the problems Japan is having with the nuclear accident, earthquake and tsunami.
“We are a family of four living in England: My wife and I have two boys, ages 19 and 12. We can offer a couple of spare rooms for a parent and child. This would just be for a few weeks until the situation is better.”
If you are not currently living in Japan, perhaps another form of giving might be a better idea (see above). While a generous offer, the logistics of moving people overseas temporarily are often more complicated and expensive than relocating to another part of Japan. Keep in mind too that most people will need housing for longer than a few weeks, especially if they were to go overseas.
If you are residing in Japan and have room to take in evacuees, you might try checking out the Couchsurfing group set up for the current crisis in Japan.
Note: There are subgroups within this Couchsurfing group for people in other countries to volunteer a place for evacuees to stay. Additionally, the Accommodate Japan Facebook group has listings of people around the world offering housing to evacuees, so they may be good to connect with.
Reader TM writes: “I would very much like to go to Japan to help. I can self-finance for many months, but would love to find a place to stay and some kind of organization to help with. What would you recommend?”
Currently, first-responders are doing their jobs and it’s best for untrained volunteers to stay where they are until the situation has been completely assessed. So, unless you are a medical professional or have disaster relief experience, for now, giving monetarily is the most helpful thing you can do.
Some general advice: Please, do not go to the disaster area alone or without an organization. After assessment is complete, and the disaster relief teams have done their work, organizations (such as Red Cross and others) will likely begin taking volunteers. This may be a few weeks to a couple months away, so best to watch for that.
For those living in Japan: If you are currently able to access the disaster areas or able to work on site, Jhelp ) is looking for volunteers.
The Association for Japan Exchange and Teaching, Smile Kids Japan and folks from Jetwit have compiled a list of prefectural volunteer organizations. Some prefectures are now accepting volunteers, while others have not yet posted volunteer information, but it may be possible to connect with one of these groups. Contacts are listed for some PVOs, but for general inquiries, contact Avalyn Beare or Michael Maher King at volunteer@ajet.net.
With the current power supply issues at Tokyo Electric Power Co. and in the Tohoku region, and with the government urging residents to conserve electricity, many people are wondering if they should be conserving electricity outside of the Kanto region (such as in Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, etc.)
As of now, Tepco has not needed to execute all planned blackouts due to residents and businesses decreasing electricity usage in the region. However, planned outages are still scheduled and will likely continue in the coming weeks.
According to the official websites of electric companies across west and southern Japan, which includes Kansai, Chubu, Chugoku, Kyushu, and Shikoku (no information for Hokuriku), all are covering the demand of their own regions and sending extra electricity to the Kanto region. However, west and east Japan use two different electric current frequencies, 60hz and 50hz, respectively, and as there are only three converter stations in the country, very little electricity can be converted and sent (Kansai Electric’s website says maximum capacity is 1,000,000 kw). Hokkaido is also supplying electricity for the Tohoku and Kanto regions, as they run on 50hz.
So, for residents of west Japan, conserving electricity during this time is certainly a good idea and highly encouraged, though it’s not necessary to take it to any extremes. Then again, it’s better for the environment to use as little electricity as possible, and a little easier on your bank account.
Japan Crisis Resource Guide: News Sites, Relief Organizations
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A thoughtful post by Florida-based news blogger Bill Lucey on the current situation in Japan, particularly with regard to the potential economic impact, along with a list of helpful news sites and relief organizations.
http://www.billlucey.com/2011/03/japan-crisis-resource-guide-news-sites-relief-organizations.html
The New York Times has an article today about Rikuzentakata titled Japanese Town Holds on to Hope.” The article explains that JET Montgomery “Monty” Dickson as well as the Takata High School swim coach, Motoko Mori, and 29 of the high school’s 540 students are also still missing.
