Tuesday, 29 March 2011

Fundraising event

I am on the organizing committee for a great fundraising event being held down at Woodsworth College, hosted by UT/OISE Students to raise money for Japan Relief Efforts.  Please see media release and poster for more information.  I invite anyone and everyone to attend, and please spread the word.  We have some great performing artists lined up, including my own odori group Ayame-Kai.  Yakudo will be performing one of their new numbers, and the wonderfully talented cellist Rachel Mercer will be playing a few pieces. 


JAPAN RELIEF EVENT WITH EXPERT SPEAKERS & JAPANESE PERFORMERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

TORONTO, ON –

Join us for an evening of presentations by experts to update us on the relief efforts in
Japan; there will also be performances by Japanese-Canadian musicians and dancers.
The event will raise money for the Canadian Red Cross, Japanese Earthquake Relief
Fund and Ashinaga, (www.ashinaga.org/e/), a Japanese-based charity providing
education and support for traumatized and displaced children in Japan.

The evening begins with remarks by Mr. Masaya Otsuka, Director Japan Information
Centre, of the Consulate General of Japan. Following this, Mr. John Saunders, Director
of Disaster Management in Ontario, Red Cross will update the relief effort in Japan. Ms.
Kristin Kobayashi, a presenter and an eyewitness to the Japan earthquake, says “My
experiences as a Japanese-Canadian in Tokyo during the earthquake gave me a unique
insight into the essence of the Japanese spirit.”

The artists for the event are confident that their performances will contribute to awareness
and restoration. Rachel Mercer, a cellist, says, “Bach’s music helps us ponder the fragility
of humanity.” The YAKUDO Drummers offer, "You don't just hear our drums with your
ears, you feel it within your body, like a heartbeat. We hope our performance can keep
the hearts of those in Japan beating strong."

What: OISE/UT Woodsworth student-organized Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Relief
Event.

Where: Kruger Hall, Woodsworth College, 119 St. George St. (south of Bloor St.)

When: Thurs. March 31, 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm (Remarks from 7 to 8 pm, each talk
followed by a brief Q&A session.)

Speakers:
  • Mr. Masaya Otsuka, Director Japan Information Centre, Consul, Consulate General of Japan
  • Mr. John Saunders, Director of Disaster Management in Ontario, Red Cross (expertise in the Japanese situation)
  • Ms. Kristin Kobayashi, eyewitness to the Japanese earthquake, artist and community activist.



Performers:

Rachel Mercer, Cellist

http://www.rachelmercercellist.com/index.html

Ayame-Kai Odori Group

YAKUDO Drummers

http://www.yakudo.com/


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Japan 1988

Japan 1988
Dad, Mom and I in Japan, Oct '88