Ways to help the survivors (a partial list)

San Francisco

Rainbow World Fund
Saturday, April 9 to Thursday, April 14

The Rainbow World Fund (RWF) established the LGBT Japan Earthquake Fund and is launching a series of events to support relief efforts for the survivors of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The RWF has designated April 9-14 as its “Week of Omoiyari (Compassion)” to encourage interfaith prayers and acts of giving. Shake it for Japan will be held Saturday, April 9 from 9 p.m. to midnight at the Powerhouse, 1347 Folsom St. On Sunday, April 10, there will be an interfaith prayer at Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Later that evening, from 5 to 7 p.m., Beerbust will take place at Café Flore, 2298 Market St. On Wednesday, April 13, Club Trigger, 2348 Market St., will host an event from 7 to 10 p.m. On Thursday, April 14, the Deco Lounge, 544 Larkin St., will host Heartbeat for Japan from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Funds will go to the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California-established Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Checks may be mailed to Rainbow World Fund (specify “Japan” in the memo), 4111 18th St., Suite 5, San Francisco, CA 94114.

Global Giving
Saturday, April 10

The Bay Area’s young, award-winning Japanese classical artists will present an afternoon of music by Bach, Chopin, Liszt, Japanese composer Hisatada Otaka and more to support the survivors of Japan’s recent magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami. The concert will take place at the Christ United Presbyterian Church at 1700 Sutter St. in San Francisco’s Japantown, from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, features pianists Hugo Kitano, Rieko Tsuchida and Mai Mizuno, Violinist Yujin Ariza and cellist Elena Ariza. The event suggests a $10 donation, $5 for students 18 and younger, for entry. All proceeds will go directly to Japan through Global Giving.

Our Hearts to Japan: A Japantown Community Interfaith Service of Hope and Prayers
Monday, April 11

The Japanese American Religious Federation and the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC), with support from various organizations, will hold Our Hearts to Japan: A Japantown Community Interfaith Service of Hope and Prayers, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Peace Plaza in San Francisco’s Japantown. The event is open to the public. For more information, contact the JCCCNC at (415) 567-5505, info@jcccnc.org or visit www.jcccnc.org.

Raise the Flag at Five
Saturday, April 16

Raise the Flag at Five, held in conjunction with the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, will unfurl a massive flag at the San Francisco Japantown Peace Plaza from 3 to 7 p.m. The flag will be photographed from the sky with the hopes of raising funds and awareness for the ongoing relief efforts in Japan. There will be live music by Al Jardine, one of the original Beach Boys, and other guests. There will also be a silent auction, food and drinks. According to organizers, the event does not work without “you, your friends, family, and co-workers, even the ones you don’t really like, so let them know you are attending, donating and supporting.” Donations will go toward the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.

JAPAN RESTART – Charity Concert for Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund 2011
Saturday, April 16

JAPAN RESTART, a group of musicians, performing artists, Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival crew and media specialists, will hold two concerts in hopes of raising $50,000 for the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Tickets are $30 per show and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. The shows will be at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, 1881 Post St. in  San Francisco’s Japantown, from noon to 2 p.m. and from 3 to 5 p.m. Performers include Elvin Bishop and Takezo; Dohee Lee; Miguel Govea and Los Compas; Van-Anh Vo; Taiko Ren; Kiite Moratai; Soulit (from Japan); Mark Izu, Brenda Wong Aoki, & Kenji Eshima; Lunar Drum Ensemble; Navarrete x Kajiyama Dance Theater; Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble; Hideo Date; Claire Tremblay; Studio M (from Japan); Keiji Oshita; Hiroyuki Nakagawa; Khac Quan; and Masaru Koga.

San Jose

Avloni Academy of Music
Sunday, April 24

Members of the Avloni Academy of Music will present its Help Japan Concert to raise funds for earthquake relief. The event features Bay Area classically-trained musicians at the La Petit Trianon Theatre, 72 North Fifth St., San Jose, on Sunday, April 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20, or $10 for Avloni Academy of Music students. Call (408) 203-3520 for English or (408) 234-2956 for Japanese. Checks for tickets should be mailed to (and will beneift the fund by the same name) Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, 18572 Prospect Rd “B,” Saratoga, CA 95070.

Sacramento

Sacramento City College
Japanese Culture Club
Sunday, May 1

The Japanese Culture Club of Sacramento City College presents the Japan Relief Run. The club invites the public to run around McKinley Park, 601 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento, on May 1, from 10 a.m. to noon. The event features tug-of-war and other games with an admission of $3. All proceeds will go to the Japanese Red Cross. For more information, contact sccjcc@gmail.com.

Santa Cruz

Japanese Cultural Fair of Santa Cruz
Saturday, April 23

The Japanese Cultural Fair of Santa Cruz will present its Fundraising Concert for Relief. The concert will be held at the Rio Theatre Santa Cruz, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, on Saturday, April 23, and will  feature Sandy Lydon, Watsonville Taiko, the Santa Cruz Hougaku Kai, Ho‘omana Hawaiian Band with hula dancers and San Jose Taiko. Doors open at 6:30 for the 7 to 9:30 p.m. show. Tickets may be purchased from Bookshop Santa Cruz (1520 Pacific Ave. in Downtown Santa Cruz, (831) 423-0900 or www.bookshopsantacruz.com); Streetlight Records (939 Pacific Ave. in Santa Cruz, 1-888-648-9201) or at jcfsantacruz.org. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Los Angeles

Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles

The Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles is accepting monetary donations, which will be sent directly to the Japanese Red Cross Society. Checks should be addressed as follows: Consulate General of Japan, Earthquake Aid, Consulate General of Japan, 350 S. Grand Ave., Suite 1700, Los Angeles, CA 90071–3472, (Earthquake Aid). Write “Earthquake Aid” on both the check memo line and envelope.

New York

Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA) Earthquake Relief and Recover Fund

The Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA) has partnered with JCIE/Japan and the Center for Public Resources Development (CPRD), both in Tokyo, to launch the Japan NGO Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund. Half of the funds raised will go directly to the Center for Public Resources Development’s “Give One” initiative, which raises funds for leading Japanese organizations that are working on the ground to provide immediate disaster relief. The remaining 50 percent will be used to establish a separate fund to support Japanese non-government organizations engaged in long-term reconstruction efforts. Donations should be made out to “Japan Center for International Exchange” and mailed to: Japan Center for International Exchange
274 Madison Ave., Suite 1102,
New York, NY 10016 . Note “Japan NGO Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund” on the memo.