The Diverse Circle of Support for Japan

In and around the U.S. capital of Washington, an astonishing diversity of relief efforts for Japan’s great disaster is still on display. Most of these efforts come from Japanese living in the U.S., but the enthusiastic reaction from the general American public has touched me very deeply in a direct way.

Just last week, on the evening of April 17, the Washington suburb of Alexandria played host to the “Ganbare (Hang in there) Japan! Concert,” which featured famous musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra. The local Japanese Americans’ Care Fund worked with the orchestra to put on the concert to raise funds for victims of the disaster in Japan.

The concert featured U.S.-based Japanese musicians such as the National Symphony Orchestra’s internationally-renowned principal flautist Toshiko Kohno and viola player Mahoko Eguchi, as well as American musicians.

The concert began with works by Bach and Mozart before turning to Japanese songs. Ms. Kohno performed “Akatonbo” (Red Dragonfly) on the flute with her mother Junko accompanying her on piano. During the performance, a deep hush fell over the full house. Some audience members, perhaps thinking of the disaster, were wiping away tears.

An even larger event for sending encouragement and support to Japan was “A Prayer for Japan,” which was held on April 11 at the Washington National Cathedral, in the heart of the city.

Although held in a Christian cathedral, the service began with a prelude of organ and koto that put the theme of Japan front and center. Along with passages of mourning from the Bible, the service also included a reading of Kenji Miyazawa’s poem “Ame ni mo Makezu” (Be not Defeated by the Rain) and a singing of “Sakura Sakura.”

Prayers for the victims were offered not only by Christians, but by Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Shinto representatives as well. This interfaith aspect of the service was very American.

America’s passionate support for Japan was also on display in “Hearts for Japan,” a remarkable fundraiser that appealed to the general public. Held on April 9 during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, the fundraiser mainly comprised about 50 wives of U.S.-based Japanese embassy staff members. Over several weeks, they used kimono cloth to make artificial tulips that they then sold to raise funds.

Led by Junko Fujisaki, Yuko Ishikawa and Hitomi Kajikawa, the women made 1,000 tulips in various colors and sold them at a temporary outdoor booth on Pennsylvania Avenue for $5 apiece. They sold out almost immediately.

Almost all of the buyers were average American visitors to the Cherry Blossom Festival. There were reportedly several cases of teenage girls who not only bought tulips but even donated all of the money they had on them – what looked like their allowances.

Commercial and industrial organizations have also been active in fundraising. On April 18, Eric Ziebold, executive chef at Washington’s famous Asian restaurant CityZen, held a special fundraiser dinner along with seven Japanese restaurants he called upon. On April 23, American University Japanese professor Noriko Williams held a concert with her choir called “Uta de Tsunago Shien no Kokoro” (Connecting Supportive Hearts through Song) to support reconstruction work.

This circle of diverse American support for Japan seems like it will continue to grow. In witnessing these events, I have seen Japanese and Americans come together, and I have seen Americans’ goodwill towards Japan. This togetherness and goodwill has touched me, and it has surely touched other Japanese as well.