In the wake of destruction

Following the level 9.0 earthquake on the afternoon of March, Friday 11th, Japan and the rest of the world has been left in complete and utter shock.  The magnitude of the quake was enough to cause panic and widespread destruction but that wasn’t the really killer.  Up rose from the depths of the pacific ocean a force causing a displacement of thousands of tonnes of water creating what we know now as the huge tsunamis which ripped into the NW coast of Japan in under 15 minutes.  People on the coast stood almost no chance at all, no sooner had they heard the warning when the waves were crashing up and over the coastal barriers, traveling several miles inland at frightening speeds and at a force that crushed virtually everything in its path.  In the small town of Minami Senriku in Miyagi prefecture alone, with a population of 17000 people, over 10000 are feared to have perished.  With the official death toll currently standing at over 5000 people, the final figure is likely to be closer to 20000.

Added to this, over 450000 people have been displaced and are surviving chilling temperatures huddled together in schools and community centers with limited food and water supplies.  As the Nuclear Power plant in Fukushima threatens to release yet more dangerous radioactivity into the atmosphere and surrounding areas and rescue teams being stretched due to the absolute destruction caused, the prospects for the stricken area are bad to say the least.

Despite calls from volunteer groups, the help cannot be accepted due to the dangerous nature of the rubble and ruins combined with the threat of nuclear meltdown, leaving many in Japan feeling useless. Calls for water, food and blankets are being heard with distribution being redirected to the area frantically. However, even this isn’t enough and the pride that Japan takes in tackling all problems alone has has to give way to asking for international assistance.

For those outside Japan, especially us living here in Nagoya,  largely unaffected by the crisis yet, living in one of the largest and most prosperous area of Japan, there are ways we can help.

Support groups and charities are working overtime to prepare and collect what they can in a desperate attempt lend a helping hand. They need our support and donations, however small or insignificant an amount it may seem.

The Red Cross Japan have listed on their website ways you can donate and wire funds directly to their charity account in Tokyo – visit the homepage for confirmation of this.
The bank details for wiring are as followed:

Name of Bank: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Name of Branch: Ginza
Account No.: 8047670 (Ordinary Account)
SWIFT Code: SMBC JP JT
Payee Name: The Japanese Red Cross Society
Payee Address: 1-1-3 Shiba-Daimon Minato-ku, Tokyo JAPAN

For those who would like us to handle the transfer to them then we are accepting donations on our donations page here. The amounts can be given using PayPal so an easier option of transferring small amount without incurring charges. We shall make a lump donation at the end of each week to the Red Cross Japan or every time the donation amount reaches $200 or 20000Yen.  Also see our How to donate page which has options listed for donating via the machines in the conveniences stores.

If you have any questions about the tsunami or donations, please contact us via our contact form.

Thank you everybody for your kind support in a time of great sadness for Japan.

The Nagoya-info Team