Witness: Disaster in Japan

National Geographic Channel showed this program on Aug 16th.  

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/witness/6992/Overview#tab-Overview

They will broadcast again on Aug 22nd at 4pm/CT.

Message from Mai Kyokawa, the Japanese woman soccer player

We received a message about our event from Mai Kyokawa, the U-19 Japanese woman soccer player from Miyagi, Japan.


Thanks to everyone's support, Japan won the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup championship.

It really encouraged me, as well as the many people still living in shelters.
As an athlete, I would like to support the victims as much as possible.

Wishing you a successful event.

Sincerely,

Mai Kyokawa, U-19 Japanese women's soccer player


当コンサートのために、Ｕ－１９日本女子サッカー代表の京川舞選手からメッセージを頂きました。


今回、なでしこJAPANがワールドカップで世界1位を成し遂げました。
私もサッカーを通じて被災地に元気を与えていきたいと思います。
このチャリティーコンサートが被災された皆様を勇気づけ、
おおいに盛り上がるよう心からお祈りいたします。

宮城県私立常盤木学園高校　　京川　舞

いろは８月号

いろは８月号にも当コンサートの案内が出ています！
We post the advertisement for this event on IROHA, Japanese newspaper.

下準備真っ最中！！

今、私達メンバーは当コンサートに向けて、下準備の真っ最中です。

ＰＲ担当の私Ｔは先日、日系企業、教会周辺店舗、日本食レストラン宛の手紙を郵送しました。
こういった寄付をお願いする正式な手紙は日本語ではなんとか書けるものの、英語でと
なると。。とほほ（涙）　結果、何度も何度も練り直して、私達の思いを伝えるいいものができました。

これだけ準備して、一体どれだけの返信、反応がくるのか。。

いいんです。すべては日本のため。子供たちのため。もう、やるしかないのです。

９日に長崎で原爆犠牲者慰霊平和祈念式典が行われました。その中で、長崎市長の平和宣言の中に「ノーモアヒバクシャを訴えてきた被爆国の私達が、どうして再び放射能の恐怖に脅えることとなってしまったのか。」とのメッセージが心に響きました。

一日も早く、皆が平和に暮らせる日本に戻ってほしいものです。

Please post our flyer at your place of businesses!

 Dear Readers,

'It has deeply saddened me to see my beloved and beautiful coastline covered in mud and trash.’

                                                                                    – Kazuo Fukumori, Former pitcher Texas Rangers

As you know from seeing the pictures on television and in the newspaper, Northeast Japan has been devastated by a M9.0 earthquake. 15,597 deaths 5,694 injured, and 4,980 people missing across eighteen prefectures, as well as over 125,000 buildings damaged or destroyed.

  

We feel that we are being called upon to do something to help and finally got the opportunity.

If you can help, we would appreciate your response before the event so that we can begin our advertising and publicity campaign. We accept donations payable to Place of Hope Asia; 7955 North Beach Street, Fort Worth, TX 76137. 

If you are able to post the attached flyer at your place of businesses, it would be greatly appreciated.

  

If you would like to help in any other way, please email placeofhopeasia@gmail.com to discuss your involvement.

Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to seeing you at the concert.

Sincerely,

Taka Ishigooka

Place of Hope Asia

Message from Kazuo Fukumori (Former pitcher Texas Rangers from Miyagi, Japan)

Dear Texans,

When the earthquake struck on March 11th, 2011, I was in Japan. The magnitude 9.0 earthquake was the longest that I have ever experienced and was shocked to see the devastation caused by the following tsunami. It has deeply saddened me to see my beloved and beautiful coastline covered in mud and trash.

Among the many people still living in shelters, there are thousands of students who can't afford uniforms or basic school supplies. I have already donated as much as I can and am asking for your help.

I was moved to learn how much Texans have already donated to relief efforts and very happy to hear that efforts such as the Japan Relief Concert are continuing to raise money.

I thank you and appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

Kazuo Fukumori

テキサスの皆様

元テキサスレンジャースの福盛和男です。
３月１１日の東日本大震災では、長時間にわたって大きく揺れ、海に面する地域は津波にみまわれ、想像を絶する被害が出てしまいました。私の知っている美しい宮城の海岸線は泥とがれきで無残な姿になってしまいました。
そんな中、震災にあった子供達の中には、避難所から学校に通う生徒もいます。高校に進学しても新しい制服を準備できず中学校の時の制服で登校している生徒もいます。
私自身も被災地へお米２０トンを寄付させていただきましたが、まだまだ被災地は資源不足です。
このたび私がレンジャース在籍時代お世話になったテキサスの皆様が日本のために復興コンサートを開いてくださると聞き、皆さんの温かい心に胸が熱くなりました。
どうか、長期にわたっての継続的なご支援をよろしくお願いします。

福盛和男

Dear Readers

Dear Readers:

My name is Taka Ishigooka and I am representing an organization called Place of Hope Asia. We are currently planning to hold the Japan Relief Concert on September 3^rd in Fort Worth at 4p.m. This event will benefit two Japanese schools, which suffered damage from the massive earthquake and following tsunami earlier this year.

Violinist and Violists from the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and other musicians will be performing  at the event, held at the Cornerstone Baptist Church.

While many Americans have already donated to relief efforts in Japan, there are still tens of thousands of people that have been displaced from their homes and still need assistance.  Our focus is to collect donations to help two local schools that were affected by this tragedy.

We will donate the contributions that we receive to buy school supplies and desks for the Kesennuma Elementary School and Utatsu Junior High School in Miyagi Prefecture, which are among some of the most devastated areas affected by the tsunami. Sendai, which is the capital of Miyagi Prefecture, is one of the Friendship cities of Dallas.

Please contact us at email placeofhopeasia@gmail.com to discuss your involvement and allow me to answer any questions.

We look forward to seeing you at the concert!

 Sincerely,  

Taka Ishigooka