Local community rallies behind IU-affiliated victims in Japan

When Kentaro Sakuwa talked about the natural disaster in Japan, his most pressing concern was also the most basic. Don’t forget about the people, he said.

“People’s attention seems to be away from people casualties and people and those stories, I feel,” Sakuwa said.

Born and raised in Japan, Sakuwa is a graduate student and a member of the IU Japanese Student Association. Although his family was not directly impacted by the earthquake, he said he worries about their proximity to the nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

“I think I’m really fortunate that my family and friends have not been directly affected by the disaster, but I think the entire thing has been pretty shocking,” Sakuwa said.

The JSA is one of many on campus and in the community organizing fundraising events to provide relief after the March 11 tsunami that devastated Japan.

Members of JSA will discuss fundraising plans at Holi, a traditional Indian celebration hosted by several Indian student groups, Friday in Dunn Meadow.

Although upcoming fundraisers are still in the works, Sakuwa said suggestions have included a benefit concert with Jacobs School of Music faculty and a joint venture between the JSA and the East Asian studies department on Wednesday.

In a statement available on IU’s newly developed Japan Relief website, Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson expressed support for campus relief efforts.
“These events will help to organize our community’s interest, send messages of compassion and solidarity to our neighbors in Japan and provide tangible assistance to the survivors of the catastrophes,” Hanson said on the website.

Support is coming from community sources as well. The Tibetan Mongolian
Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington will sponsor a fundraiser and interfaith prayer ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday to benefit Red Cross relief efforts.

Lisa Morrison, director of marketing and media for the TMBCC, said the Center has many ties to Japan, especially through its leader, Arjia Rinpoche, who Morrison said regularly travels to Japan.

The Japan-American Society of Indiana, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit that provides varied resources for Japanese and Japanese Americans, has teamed up with the JSA to provide fundraising assistance.

Since the tsunami, the Japan-American Society of Indiana has developed a statewide fundraiser, the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. A partnership with Chase, Fifth Third, PNC and Old National banks allows for more direct donation within the state.

The organization’s website also provides links to help locate family or friends in Japan.
Japan-American Society of Indiana Community Coordinator Tamayo Fukumoto said she has fielded calls from schools and organizations across the state. Fukumoto said her role involves connecting disparate groups.

“Everybody wants to help in their way, so I’m trying to connect people with the best way to do their fundraising event,” Fukumoto said.

For Sakuwa, the act of raising funds is a way to show support for the people of Japan. Sakuwa said while news coverage may focus on the political or economic impact, the human element is most important.

“Tens of thousands of people lost their houses and families, and I think it had a pretty profound impact on Japanese society,” Sakuwa said.