More love for Japan Posted on 8th April 2011
Thank you to everyone who’s bought something from our Genki Online shop over the past few weeks. We will soon announce how much money we have raised but in the meantime please check out these sites to make a donation.
World Vision http://bit.ly/h1n06d
Red Cross http://bit.ly/hkCSfV
I think I was Japanese in another life because the moment I first stepped foot there I felt at home.
The city of Tokyo is very beloved to me. So the tragic news on Friday evening hit me hard and now, days later seeing the nightmarish sequence of events unfold, makes me feel ill.
Thank goodness all my friends and their loved ones are all safe, but the pain of Japan right now and what lies ahead is too much to imagine.
I feel very useless here in Melbourne and am thinking of what we can do here. I know money always helps, so for this week Genki will donate all profits to the relief effort in Japan. If you have been thinking of buying something here at the Genki online shop, now is the weeks to do it. You’ll get something lovely and help a good cause.
I also want to say thank you to Hello Sandwich and Toastie (pictured on the bike) in Tokyo who have kept tweeting through all of this and shed light on the good bits even at such a dark time (like how beautiful, calm and generous Japanese people are).
Stay safe and genki (especially to my friends in Japan), C x
Comments on this post:
Monika — 17 March at 10:25PM
I'm devastated to see what's been happening around Seida & Fukushima. I hope this nuclear catastrophe can be resolved soon.
My trip is still weeks away but I still haven't decided anything. If Tokyo is too unsafe, I would probably re route to Osaka.
Emiちゃん — 17 March at 10:51PM
I have the exact feelings as you.
1. I think I am Japanese sometimes even though I am actually Chinese. I love the country, the people, the food, the ...everything.. Its strange but I felt like home when I was in Japan.
2. I am depressed because of the earthquake and Tsunami. I feel like going see a counsellor.
3. I love my Japanes friends on Instagram - Iphone App. They post love photos all the time.
4. I feel useless here as well. At this moment I feel like going to Japan ASAP!
P.S I loved your shop so much!
chanie — 18 March at 11:24AM
It feels so good to read your comments, Monika & Emi. sometimes i feel alone here as i'm thinking about Japan most of the time and it feels strange that most people i see in my day have moved on. it does make such a difference when you have a personal connection to a place & culture when a catastrophe strikes. i am thinking of other ways to help, but in the meantime will continue donating genki profits for next week too.
take care, c x
PS. i think you still should go, Monika-even if Osaka. you will fall in love.
Monika — 18 March at 09:20PM
My colleague at work and I were having discussion about the current tragedy in Japan yesterday.
A friend of my friend, who is Japanese, was telling her how amazing people there even in the midst of tragedy and hardship. When they were queueing for food in supermarket, they were still buying in a small amount because they were thinking about other people behind them who desperately needed food as well.
My colleague thought Japan is the only nation in the world that still could deal with catastrophe like this with calmness & grace. If it happened in other countries in the world, we would expect total chaos.