I hope it's okay to post this here:

GACKT opened a Earthquake/Tsunami charity project here:

http://static.hangame.co.jp/hangame/extr...index.html

Mitsui Sumitomo Bank (SWIFT: SMBCJPJT) [You need this SWIFT code to send money from overseas.]
Shibuya Ekimae Branch (No.234)
Account Number: 3483718
Account Holder: NHN JAPAN　 (NHN JAPAN = エヌエイチエヌジャパン）

All the proceeds will go to people in the affected areas via Japanese Red Cross, local governments, and social welfare corporations.

http://www.gackt.com/page/message/us.html

Another source for donations.

The website is written in Japanese but permission to post was granted by the translator.



JACK IN THE DONATION BOX, if you will.

From http://www.maverick-dci.com/ via @OISHI_MASAHIRO

Dear Music Fans,

We offer our sincerest condolences to all of the victims in the wake of this unprecedented national tragedy, the Great Tohoku-Pacific Earthquake.
As an expression of our fondest hopes for a speedy recovery, we have put together the JACK IN THE BOX CHARITY PROJECT.
Specifically, we are actively supporting the aggrieved through the Power of Music by offering them courage and hope.
As we witness one horrifying image of this disaster after another, we feel we must do something to help the afflicted overcome this hardship, and as such we hope that you, the music fans reading this message, will assist us.
Together, we will carry on the feelings of our artists: "First, We Act". "Send Them Courage". "Keep Strength in our Hearts" "Send Music To Kindly Comfort Hearts".

Working together, Music can ring through and assist in the efforts.
Help us send our power as fast as possible.

All of our staff and artists look forward to the cooperation and understanding of music-loving fans everywhere.

March 15, 2011
MAVERICK DC GROUP

------------------

The Federation of Music Producers of Japan (FMPJ) has begun soliciting donations directed as assistance for the Great Tohoku-Pacific Earthquake.
Maverick DC is offering their full cooperation. More details of FMPJs work can be found here (Japanese, untranslated)

100% of the funds donated to this project will go to earthquake recovery efforts.

The charity will be active from March 14 to April 30, 2011.
The exact recipient has not yet been determined. The FMPJ takes full responsibility for the effort.

To donate, send a bank transfer to the following account

Bank: Mizuho
Branch: Aoyama (211)
Account: (regular) 2604929
Account holder: NIHON ONGAKU SEISAKUSHA RENMEI (FMPJ)


(Translator's note)

As of now, the ONLY way to make a donation is by bank transfer.
Please check with your bank in your home country to find out whether and how you can contribute, if you choose to do so.
Be aware that your donation might cost you a handling fee from overseas, and keep currency exchange rates in mind

Thanks for posting this as well .

If anybody knows of other ways to donate maybe you can post it here in this thread.

A lot of online retailers are donating portions of their profits to Earthquake Relief. I emailed Japan Discoveries about the status of the ship out for the mekuri calendar and world tour photo book combo as well as tracking down one or two other VAMPS items for me and they mentioned in their emails that parts of their profits will be going to Red Cross (admittedly they didn't say exactly how much but if I can get JRock goods and contribute, even in a small way, to a good cause, it's win-win for me). CDJapan also has a link about donations to disaster relief but I didn't follow it...seems like just about everyone is banding together somehow :) Love it <3

Yoshiki Foundation:

http://yoshikifoundation.org/

- donations via PayPal possible .

Another way to show support if you do not have the funds to help out. Many of you are probably TOKYOPOP readers.

This request is from TOKYOPOP's founder. Please consider.


March 18, 2011 - Stu Levy

Hi everyone!

As you all know, Japan is going through a very challenging time. The 9.0 earthquake last week and the resulting tsunami caused significant damage to coastal towns throughout Miyagi and Iwate prefectures. The quake rattled and rocked us in Tokyo as well, resulting in food and gas shortages, electricity blackouts and transportation problems.

But the people north of Tokyo (in Miyagi and Iwate) have been living a nightmare. Over 400,000 victims have had their homes destroyed - and are now living in emergency shelters. Many have lost friends and family, as well as most of their worldly possessions.

This week I visited one of those shelters to deliver food, fuel and other provisions. The shelter is a junior high school in a harbor area of Sendai, Miyagi. The school (and neighborhood) is called Rikuzen-Takasago, shortened to TAKASAGO. There are over 1000 victims living in this shelter.

For the first few days after the earthquake, they had so little food that they had literally only one potato chip per person for the entire day. Two nights ago we prepared their first hot bowl of rice for them from the provisions we delivered. They still do not have electricity or heat, and when I was up there it was freezing cold and snowing. 30-80 people are scrunched into each classroom, sleeping on the floor with one or two blankets each. The victims are of all ages - and everyone is urgently cleaning the tsunami mud from the school so that disease doesn't spread.

Shida-san, the students and I built an outside cooking facility since using an open flame inside is dangerous - the challenge was protecting against wind and snow.

Even in those circumstances, the victims are working hard as a team. They are cleaning together, cooking together, carrying the provisions, helping each other out - it's truly inspiring to see them fighting so hard to survive and overcome this tragedy.

What really stood out to me the most was the energy and spirit of the Takasago students. When we were building an outdoor cooking facility, they all labored on various tasks we assigned them - sweeping, washing, carrying gas tanks, laying down temporary flooring, and more. We worked as a team and I could tell how excited they were to be involved - they took a lot of pride in their hard work.

On the way home, I was listening to Japanese radio while taking turns driving the truck. The radio's DJ was reading letters from people throughout Japan who are cheering on the victims. It is very moving to hear these letters, but I realized that none of the victims can actually hear these messages because the shelters don't have electricity - so no radio.

That's when it dawned on me what WE can do together as the TOKYOPOP community. I remembered the students' excitement when they practiced some of their English phrases for me and when I taught them some of our American handshake styles (we have so many, after all). They laughed and jumped around trying to high-five each other in the "American" styles.

So, I thought, what if I gather letters from our community and deliver those letters to them? They can't read much English but so many of you can draw beautifully as well as write poems, simple letters, and even some decorative Japanese phrases. Maybe you can include a photo of yourself and friends (cosplay!) - or something about you. Anything to let the Takasago students know that you are cheering them on - and to put a smile on their face.

Of course, the food, fuel and blankets are top priority but so many people are now pitching in that I anticipate that problem will be resolved in the next week. The real issue is how long the victims will have to live in these shelters - it could be months. So many of these shelters are schools and the schools need to start teaching. The students will have bright futures if they can make it through this trauma, not only physically but also emotionally. That's why your letters and drawings will mean so much. It will help heal the deep scars this disaster has caused, and ease the pain of the trauma.

So, here is my plea to you:

PLEASE SEND YOUR WORDS, ART, MANGA AND PICTURES!

We can't do this digitally because there's no electricity, so we have to go old school: paper! Also, I want to bring up a huge box on my next provisions trip, so please send them directly to my office in Tokyo. I know the postage is a bit more expensive, but it will save precious time to not go through our LA office.

Of course donations to the various non-profit funds are critical but this is something that will cost you almost no money (just postage) - and it is something very special. My hope is that I can learn more about the Takasago students and introduce them to you guys next - through photos and letters from them back.

Please send them to:

Students of Takasago
c/o Stu Levy
Tokyo Towers, Mid-Tower 4918
6-3-2 Kachidoki, Chuo-ku
Tokyo, Japan 104-0054

Omg I love this (T^T) I hope they get lots and lots of letters...I am going to write one too I think...I have a bunch of stuff I need to mail out this week and I should send them something too!!

i just saw this in my inbox. people are being very creative.

Ju-ken has posted a blog in both English and Spanish thanking and encouraging fans to help with Japan's current plight.

http://blog.ju-ken.velvet.jp/