Category Archive for J-News
LOS ANGELES EVENTS TO HELP JAPAN EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS: Q-POP ART FUNDRAISER, GIANT ROBOT LA, SEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONS ON THE ROX.
The amount of damage from the Japan disaster is still not known. But the casualties are now in the thousands, and believed to be in the ten thousands.
Sebastiano and I want to return to Tokyo as soon as everything is less volatile. We feel that for now, foreigners especially can help the most by raising money for reputable charities in Japan. We think supporting the professionals – medical teams, rescue crews – is the best course of action for the time being.
Seba and La Carmina are planning many events this week in Los Angeles to raise money. We collaborated with a well-known band (to be revealed soon), and collected donations at Mr. Black for Medecins Sans Frontiers / Doctors Without Borders. (Seba crafted a “Donate To Japan” sign in less than 10 minutes – impressive!)
Thanks to everyone at Mr Black LA for generously donating. And to The Orlando Hotel for hosting and supporting us — we’re overjoyed to be back.
Some updates… My schedule for the next few weeks remains unclear. My Belgian TV show and the NOH8 campaign in Japan are certainly postponed.
Fortunately, Yukiro made it to Sweden after a harrowing Narita airport experience! Many of our friends in Tokyo have moved to areas such as Kansai and Kageshima, just as a precaution.
Tonight, we will be raising awareness and funds at On The Rox, the weekly LA party by Semi Precious Weapons (who toured with Lady Gaga). Hope to see you there.
La Carmina and Sebastiano Serafini are sponsoring the Q Pop art auction for Japan this Friday, in downtown LA. The Japanese clothing store is now accepting donations of artwork. All proceeds will go to select local hospitals, shelters, and relief groups in all affected areas in Japan.
Please join us at the silent auction on Friday, March 18th from 7-11pm. Q Pot Shop is located at 128 Astronaut E S Onizuka St, Los Angeles.
Participating artists include Junko Mizuno, and illustrators for Power Puff Girls, Samurai Jack and Pixar. (Works will also be sold online.) Tune in Tokyo is spinning tunes, and there will be live music from Dig Jelly, Stephanie Yanez and guitarist Po Lo.
We encourage you to support your local events to help Japan. Other events in Los Angeles:
MARCH 17, 8-11pm: We <3 Japan: One Day Art Auction and Celebrity Signing at Meltdown Comics. Info here.
MARCH 19, 6:30-10pm: Giant Robot Presents Water Works – Fundraiser for the Devastation in Japan. Info here.
Also on Saturday March 19th, please join Seba and La Carmina at the #PrayForJapan art fundraiser at JapanLA. Details are in this post.
Keep us posted about you and your friends. How are you doing? Have you been taking action to help Japan?
PS: I’ve gotten some emails, and I think people should be more concerned about Sendai and NOT about whether they can still take shopping vacations in Tokyo in a few weeks. Not the time to be a tourist…
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SEBA & I ARE SAFE IN LA. ANIME MATSURI, TOKYO PLANS CHANGING. PRAY FOR JAPAN ART FUNDRAISER TO HELP SENDAI EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS, MAR 19.
Crisis mode. If you’ve been following my Twitter, you’ll have seen my tweets about the devastating post-earthquake situation in Japan.
My Tokyo friends are having trouble flying out. Trains to Narita airport have stopped running and many flights were cancelled. Thankfully, Sebastiano got on a flight from Haneda to Los Angeles, and is here (shaken but safe). We’re in LA for the next 1-2 weeks, and are doing everything possible to help Japan. (How can we even think of anything else?)
UPDATE: Sorry if people don’t agree with us, but our position is unchanged – we think people should be more concerned about radiation and general instability in areas near Fukushima. We’re still going to do our best to help people get away from nearby areas, and have a ton of fundraisers planned in next few days.
Unfortunately, the Sendai crisis has shifted many of my upcoming plans. Please read:
† I am so sorry, but I cannot make it to Anime Matsuri in Houston, Texas next weekend. I was looking forward to meeting so many of you… Happily, the h.NAOTO Sixh and Hangry & Angry fashion shows are still on, and I urge you to attend and support.
† My Japan plans are also up in the air. The NOH8 Campaign, Belgian TV, and German TV crews are waiting at least a few more days to gauge the situation. I hope I can be in Tokyo by late March, but right now, everything’s on standby.
Seba and I worry about our friends in Japan. Sure, Tokyo is nowhere as badly hit as the epicenter (the footage is devastating). But there are blackouts, train stoppages, constant aftershocks — it’s stressful. And sure, a lot of Western media is exaggerating information about a nuclear meltdown. But the fact is, there is a 70% probability of a 7.0+ quake in the next few days.
The situation’s still not easy to assess. There’s no need to panic, but we hope people will at least consider going elsewhere for a little while… All we’re saying is, keep options open and stay safe. (Not everyone will agree, but that’s our take on things.)
What can those outside Japan do? Donate and take action. La Carmina and Sebastiano will be sponsoring many charity events in LA , for the people of Japan — especially the hardest-hit regions. This weekend, we encourage you to participate in the #PrayForJapan Art Fundraiser Exhibition.
The event is organized by Sweet Streets in response to the earthquake in Japan. 100% of art sales will be donated to the Red Cross (you can also or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10). The artists who have donated works include Camilla d’Errico and Tokidoki. LA friends, we hope you’ll join us!
WHEN: Saturday, March 19, 7-10pm
WHERE: JapanLA, 7320 1/2 Melrose Ave at North Fuller, Los Angeles, CA
OPEN CALL: The event is accepting art submissions. Email the curator, Caro, at info@sweetstreetsla.com for details.
No matter where you are located, there are tons of ways to help. The Huffington Post has a great article about the many ways to aid earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.
Your favorite J-Goths and J-rockers are doing their part to help. Gackt (who I saw perform in 2009) has organized the Show Your Heart foundation to collect donations for the victims. Supporters include Shinya (from LUNA SEA), Fujiwara Norika, DAIGO (from BREAKERZ), and Haruna Ai. Yoshiki of X Japan also donated his crystal piano for auction.
† For the next week, music label HearJapan will donate 50% of all sales to the Japan relief effort. Pick up a digital album here.
† Starwave Records and Darkest Labyrinth will contribute part of the income from their online shop to Gackt’s Show Your Heart foundation between March 13 and April 30.
† The tsunami destroyed the hometown of Takuya Angel’s mother. The cyber designer is having a 20% off sale, and all proceeds will be donated.
Please share this post and consider the ways we can all help Japan. If you’re in Los Angeles, we hope to see you this Saturday night at the art fundraiser. As always, more updates to come here and on Twitter.
Japanese Word of the Day: Uranaishi = Fortune telling, or the earthquake warning beep that goes off on cell phones
Song of the Day: Odd Dimension – The Ecstasy of Hopes (Powerful track.)
LA CARMINA
