Gifts
Asami Katayam
Intern, Global Citizen Corps
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The last Thursday night was a nightmare. A good friend of mine texted me asking if my family was OK; it was the first time I was informed that Japan, my country was attacked by a great earthquake and tsunami.
I turned on the TV immediately and saw pictures and films of massive amounts of water wiping away houses, cars and people. My heart started pumping so hard as I tried to reach my family and friends in Japan.
My father answered my call right away. I was able to make sure everyone was safe, except my sister who lives in Tokyo. All the phone lines were dead in Tokyo, so my family and I couldn't get a hold of her for about three hours; my anxiety was at the peak and I stayed up the whole night.
Finally, my sister updated “I’m fine! My phone doesn’t work,” on her Facebook page through her iPhone, and that's how I got to know she was safe. I’m now very grateful my family is safe, although my heart has been broken since that night untll now by following the sad news of Japan in the newspapers, on TV and websites.
I am an earthquake survivor. I experienced the Great Hanshin Earthquake in January 1995 when I was six years old. I still remember how I was extremely scared evacuating from home, staying outside in the middle of the winter. There were fires in my neighborhood, the water line was down for weeks and nearly 6,500 precious lives were taken.
My hometown, the city of Kobe, was majorly destroyed. But my city recovered very quickly with great support from many people all over Japan and the world. I wish we could stop earthquakes but, unfortunately, we as humans are powerless against natural disasters.
I am an intern student with Mercy Corps’ Global Citizen Corps Team. I’m very thankful that I could be a part of Mercy Corps’ great work and am also grateful for Mercy Corps’ quick response to support our Japanese partner, Peace Winds. I’m doing everything I can do now to help my colleagues who are working on disaster relief for Japan.
Two of my Japanese friends and I gathered tonight to discuss our action plans for our country from here in Portland, Oregon — so far away from home. We decided to hold a candlelight vigil and fundraising event for survivors on Friday, March 18 from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Pioneer Square, downtown Portland’s public place. We are also going to create collection boxes and flyers to ask local restaurants and shops to set up. We talked about building a team of college students to send to Miyagi Prefecture to conduct disaster relief over spring break, but this plan is still up in the air, depending on the sites' needs and the condition.
All the donations we raise will be donated to Mercy Corps' efforts in Japan.
Again, I am thankful for all the support and warm wishes from all over the world for my country, Japan. I deeply appreciate it and my prayers go out to all the people who are affected in natural disasters and conflicts elsewhere in the world including Japan, Haiti, Egypt, Libya and many other nations.
You can support our emergency response alongside our partner, Peace Winds, by clicking here to donate.
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Filed under
- Countries: Japan
- Topics: Emergency response
Comments
Vinod Mandre
March 13, 2011 9:46AM
Hello Asami
Please accept my heartfelt thanks and support for the work you do. I am donating through different charities for Japan
Ouen shiteimasu
Ganbatte ne!
Vinod
Dr Aletta
March 13, 2011 10:33AM
I am glad you family is safe. I have friends in Japan and it was a day before I knew they were OK. It is good work you are doing. Best wishes for a successful fundraiser. If I lived closer to Portland I would be there. As it is I will be there in spirit.
Nicole
March 13, 2011 10:49AM
Hello Asami,
I work for KPTV -FOX12 here in Portland. If you are able, we would like to interview you about your experiences and the mery corps commitment to help those affected by the devastation in Japan.
Let us know if you are interested. You can email me @ nicole.doll@kptv.com
Thank You.
Abdul Rasheed
March 13, 2011 11:03AM
I am an Abdul Rasheed Abbasi from Pakistan, I am very shocked when I was informed that Japan sonami. I experienced Mansehra Pakistan earthquake and Flood 2010 Pakistan too and I now work here in Pakistan with plan Pakistan. I'm working as a volunteer for Jananees brothers and sisters. Let us know how I can volunteer work at this time. Keep up the good work to all for humanity!
Abdul Rasheed Khan Abbasi
Rick London
March 13, 2011 1:08PM
Dear Asami,
My wife Lee's and my thoughts and prayers go out to your entire wonderful country. May it heal rapidly.
My name is Rick London and I am a cartoonist in Hot Springs, Ar. After the Haiti Earthquake, my sister, Kathy Ireland, was in a northern desolate region trying to help save lives. A 5 year old girl and her 80 something year old grandmother both needed angioplasty. I had not heard of Mercy Corps (even though my wife is from Portland), so I contacted another nonprofit. They couldn't get that far up. I found Mercy Corp, and Kathy led them via phone and email as to their location. Mercy Corp saved their lives when other such groups were going to Central America, also experiencing a disaster.
I will never forget that miracle and dedication of what Mercy Corp did for those
two persons who otherwise did not stand a chance. I never thanked MC but I'm taking this opportunity.
I have a cartoon (about sushi, my favorite food) on posters and prints. I am pledging 100% of sales of the item to Mercy Corp starting today through April 15. I hope sales are brisk and it helps in my own small way.
http://bit.ly/hGeOHH Plz RT
Thanks sincerely,
Rick London
Londons Times Cartoons
Judy Walker
March 13, 2011 5:38PM
Asami, you ROCK! I am SO proud of you! I have made my contribution to Mercy Corps and will attend the candlelight vigil with as many people as I can muster. I'm here to help! Let me know what I can do.
Daisuki,
Judy
Asami Katayam
March 14, 2011 1:44AM
Thank you, Judy! I'd like to have your help to spread my words for the candlelight vigil event and donation supports at Richmond School. I'll contact you via facebook.
Arigatou! Daisuki!
-Asami
Asami Katayam
March 14, 2011 1:53AM
Hello Nicole,
Thank you very much for your interest in interviewing me. I’d love to take this offer to spread my prayer and words for the candlelight vigil/fundraising event that my friends and I are organizing. I will contact you further by e-amail.
-Asami
Dr Aletta
March 14, 2011 4:33AM
I linked back to this article from my website to try to get the word out. I wish you much success in your efforts for the people of Japan.
Tomomi Arita
March 14, 2011 11:02AM
Asami,
Thank you for organizing the fundraising event in Portland.
I am from Japan and living in Portland.
As you said, it is so far away from home, but I must take some actions to help people suffering in my country.
Please contact me if I can help you with the fundraising event.
Thank you.
Daniel Yoon
March 14, 2011 12:57PM
Asami,
My deepest thoughts and prayers to the victims and those who lost their family and friends. I am planning to attend the candlelight vigil on Friday. I am also going to start gathering donations from my work. Do you know if there's any place where I can send flowers in the meantime? I know that there's Japanese Consulate General on 5th. Do you think it'd be a good place for it?
Thanks,
Daniel
Keiko
March 14, 2011 1:00PM
Hello Asami-san.
My name is Keiko. I am from Yuuyake Shimbun, Japanese English newspaper here in Portland.
I would like to talk to you so could you please contact me?
My e-mail is keiko@pdxprint.com.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Thank you.
Keiko Honda
clare strong
March 15, 2011 4:46AM
Asami, I just wanted to add my very best wishes to you and your family. I cannot begin to imagine the fear and loss your country is experiencing right now and I wish you all the luck in restoring Japan back to it's former glory.
I am amazed at your strength of courage, particularly as you have personally experienced this situation before, and know the difficulties of living without simple basic needs, shelter, fresh water, food etc. I hope our donations will make a small difference.
Peace and hope.
Clare,
Kevin Ahn
March 15, 2011 11:46AM
Hi Asami,
I'm trying to use my work's matching gift on our charity giving but need some information to get it started. Please forward me any document 501.c and related info about the event.
Please contact me via email (neoconfucian@gmail.com)
Kevin
Gloria Jung Adeboi
March 15, 2011 11:59AM
Asami,
Thanks for sharing your story and wonderful post, and for coordinating this effort for the candle light vigil. I lived in Tohoku for several years and my town Higashine in Yamagata, bordered Miyagi Prefecture to the west. Whilst living there I spent significant time in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. The news footage has been devestating to watch.
I'm not sure if a song has been selected for Friday, but one that was very close and dear to my heart and Japanese friends during my time in Japan was 'You've Got A Friend' by Carol King and James Taylor.
I changed about five words in the fifth paragraph down. Ie....."People" to "Nature" and "They" to "It". But hope you will consider this to be apart of the vigil. I'd love to video record the vigil and so those of us that have spent time in Japan can send to former students, colleagues, friends and family to provide support and encouragement as they assist their friends and neighbors in the recovery efforts in the coming days, weeks and months.
Here is the song:
You’ve Got a Friend – James Taylor / Carole King
When you're down and troubled
And you need a helping hand
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You've got a friend
If the sky above you
Should turn dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind should begin to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud, yeah
Soon I'll be knocking upon your door
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running, oh yes I will
To see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When nature can be so cold
It'll hurt you, and desert you
And take your soul if you let it
Oh yeah, but don't you let it
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yes I will.
You've got a friend
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again (oh baby don't you know)
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
Lord, I'll be there yes I will.
You've got a friend
Oh, you've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
You've got a friend.
I'm happy to coordinate video, small sound system and bring printouts of the lyrics.
Just e-mail me at gloria@oriented.com
Thanks,
Gloria
Earnest Migaki
March 15, 2011 3:01PM
Asami-san:
After hearing about the earthquake in Japan on NPR I've been trying to get in touch with friends and relatives in Japan, and it seems like most of them are ok....some I have yet to get in touch with. With the news reports off FNN and TBS I've seen, it seems that food, water, shelter and medical supplies are the greatest needs, including gasoline to get the trucks and vehicles to the areas affected. I'm glad that somebody who is both a survivor and native Japanese is working with Mercy Corps to get things going from the NW as well.
The folks at OPB have contacted me, today, to ask for anybody living in the NW that have connections with Japan, in the areas affected, to be interviewed for their "Think Out Loud" radio show on Monday, March 21, to find out what are their needs are over there in Japan, as well as what can be done to help.
I immediately thought about MercyCorps, and sent an email to John Haines, whom I've talked with before, and he suggested checking out the MercyCorps website.
After reading your blog posting, I think you would be a perfect candidate to help get the message out on what MercyCorps is doing, and how people can help.
If you are able to offer some words of personal experience, plus what people can do for donations, then it would help the cause, I'm sure. Please contact Jaymee Cuti @ 503 445-1873 or jcuti@opb.org for more information.
This includes anybody else who reads this blog that might offer some good insights to help the folks in Japan....
Thank you,
Earnest & Sumiko Migaki
Soy Beam Jozo Co.
soybeam1@yahoo.com
Alex Accetta
March 16, 2011 11:15AM
Has your group made any decision on a space for the vigil? I have heard from three folks who are looking to help or need more information if it will be downtown, at PSU in the Urban Plaza, or in conjunction with the Japanese Garden -- is it something I should help you pursue or have you moved on to a different outcome? -- Alex
Satomi
March 17, 2011 5:24PM
Hi, Asami-san. I was looking for a volunteer work in Japan on the Internet, and found your page. I immediately called Mercy Corps to talk to you about volunteer work in Japan. I live near San Diego and wish I live closer to Portland so I could go to candlelight vigil on March 18. Please let me know/ or contact me if I can be your volunteer worker in Japan. I am originally from Japan so I speak native Japanese and fluent in English. Thank you .
Diane
March 17, 2011 11:40PM
Asami, you will create an event both beautiful and meaningful which will touch the hearts of people everywhere.
Ryo
March 13, 2011 9:19AM
I experienced hanshin earthquake too and I now work here in Portland in an accounting firm. it's so hard watching tv and not being able to do anything. I'm donating money to mercy Corp and negotiating with the firm to donate a lot more than I could ever donate. Let us know how we can be most helpful. Keep up the good work to all!