The Japan Open for 2011 has been moved to July 9-10. For any who were planning on playing in it last weekend; there is more information on the JPBA website.
It basically says that the date is moved to July 9-10. If you still want to play, you have to fill out a form and send it to them between 4/11 and the last day of May. If you want a refund, you have to fill out a different form and send it in within the same time period.
Apparently there were about 500 players signed up for the tournament. Hopefully not too many drop out (especially the ones coming from abroad).
The resilience of the Japanese people is strong. I am glad to see they are going to still have this Japan Open event.
I am communicating with a good friend of mine who lives in Japan. He sent some interesting information as well as a few links, which I have provided a copy-and-paste below:
Jennie,
Thank you so much for your warm message. I really appreciate it.
The nuclear pant's situation is getting better gradually. But, the plant city in Fukushima is basically abandoned. People evacuated already. It is said water and vegetable are already contaminated in the area. But, Tokyo is still safe.
Organized gift giving is basically targeted at shelter assistance now in Japan. But, it all depends on transportation and infrastructure too. Hokkaido is now totally isolated because the ground transportation and postal services are dead. Even if I want to send something to my parents in Tokyo, it is just impossible. We must keep working hard on the infrastructure.
I am still busy with handling the student matters including international students, who are leaving or not coming back, as well as potential cancellation for an international symposium I am organizing. Some Universities like Waseda University in Tokyo cancelled graduate ceremonies and upcoming classes in Spring. But, Hokkaido University is not going to change any planned schedules. So, it seems I have to work on regular works as well as those emergency related duties for the time being.
My parents are fine and I am OK. FYI, please let me share the following forwarded message from US-Japan foundation, which I am a member of.
Thank you so much.
All the best,
Masa
The following list of organizations collecting donations was compiled by Prof. Hitoshi Abe, director of the Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies at UCLA, and circulated via the Center's mailing list.
Please circulate this message as widely as possible among your friends.
Sincerely,
Hitoshi Abe
Director, Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies, UCLA
(Translated by Seiji Lippet, Associate Director)
After much research and consideration, we recommend the following groups due to their presence in Japan and their ability to bring relief to the victims directly. Groups have been categorized by their mission goals and include local government, general relief (humanitarian aid), medical aid, and children's needs. These groups have teams positioned to aid affected areas.
Local Government
Funds donated directly to these heavily affected northeastern
prefectures will be used to aid victims and begin reconstruction
efforts. These sites are primarily in Japanese and accept donations only
by bank transfer (no credit cards).
Miyagi Prefecture <http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/kihu.htm> - Japanese only
Separate funds have been created to help victims
<http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/kihu.htm#3> of the disaster and to support
reconstruction <http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/kihu.htm#2> efforts.
Iwate Prefecture <http://sv032.office.pref.iwate.jp/~bousai/> -
Japanese Only
To donate, please view instructions here
<http://sv032.office.pref.iwate.jp/~bousai/taioujoukyou/gienkin.htm> .
The website is also available in Japanese
<http://wwwcms.pref.fukushima.jp/> , Chinese
<http://www.pref.fukushima.jp/index_c.html> and Korean
<http://www.pref.fukushima.jp/index_k.html> . See the donation
instructions in English
<http://www.worldvillage.org/fia/data/donation_0316_1600.pdf> and
Japanese
<http://wwwcms.pref.fukushima.jp/pcp_portal/PortalServlet?DISPLAY_ID=DIR
ECT&NEXT_DISPLAY_ID=U000004&CONTENTS_ID=23642> .
Ibaraki Prefecture - As of March 18, 2011, Ibaraki Prefecture has no
emergency fund in place.
General Relief
Japanese Red Cross <http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/index.html>
Japanese Red Cross teams are already in the field helping those in need.
A Japanese-language update on their activities may be viewed here
<http://www.jrc.or.jp/vcms_lf/kyugo_20110315_sokuhou13.pdf> .
The Japanese donation page <https://www2.0553.jp/jrc/payment/> accepts
credit card donations. Instructions for bank transfers are available on
the English donation page
<http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/relief/l4/Vcms4_00002070.html> .
Peace Winds Japan <http://www.peace-winds.org/en/>
Peace Winds, whose response to the disaster was immediate, is
cooperating with other organizations to provide shelters and emergency
supplies in the hard-hit Kesennuma area. Find out more about their
activities here <http://www.peace-winds.org/en/> .
Donate <http://peacewindsamerica.org/support/> by check or credit card.
Salvation Army <http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf>
Salvation Army teams in Sendai and Mito are distributing meals and
supplies to evacuees. For more information, please check the activity
blog <http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org/?p=5689> .
Credit card donations are accepted online
<https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/site/c.tvI3IeNUJsE/b.5760419/k.2CB3
/Donate_Now/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=tvI3IeNUJsE&b=5760419&en=ajKJLXODL9KS
L7PGJ8JPL4NRKtJ1KcOTLmITJ8NMJbLNK8P2E> and by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY;
or text "JAPAN" or "QUAKE" to 80888 to make a $10 donation. (You must
respond "YES" to a confirmation thank-you message.)
Convoy of Hope <http://www.convoyofhope.org/>
Convoy of Hope reports shipping 50,000 meals from the Philippines to
Japan. Supplies are being sent to partners in Japan to be distributed to
evacuation shelters and national churches. Source
<http://www.convoyofhope.org/go/headlines/entry/50000_meals_expedited> .
Donate <https://donate.convoyofhope.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=421> to its
Japan Disaster Relief fund online. Accepts credit card.
Medical Aid
The elderly in particular are struggling due to illnesses that require
constant care.
AmeriCares <http://www.americares.org/>
"AmeriCares and its relief workers in Japan are working to deliver
medicines and supplies to hospitals, shelters and health responders to
treat and care for survivors." Source
<http://www.americares.org/newsroom/news/americares-prepares-first-aid-s
hipment-supplies-for-japan-relief.html> .
International Medical Corps
<http://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/Page.aspx?pid=183>
"International Medical Corps' emergency response team is assessing the
post-disaster needs of isolated coastal villages north of Sendai that
have yet to receive humanitarian assistance. They found acute shortages
of food, water and some medicines, and survivors in need of mental
health support." Source
<http://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/Page.aspx?pid=1970> .
Donate <https://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=1967>
to the emergency response fund online or text MED to 80888 for a
one-time $10 donation.
Children's Needs
An estimated 100,000 children have been displaced from their homes. The
following groups focus on seeing to the needs of these children and
their caretakers.
"Save the Children teams are in Sendai to help children affected by the
earthquake and tsunami, and are in the process of setting up
child-friendly spaces. These are protective play areas that help relieve
the anxiety faced by children and allow them to spend time with other
children and play while being supervised by responsible adults. The play
areas also give parents much needed time that they can dedicate to
finding food sources, work, accommodation and locating other friends and
family." Source
<http://www.savethechildren.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=8rKLIXMG
IpI4E&b=6478615&ct=9191523> .
"Blankets, bottled water, and sanitary and hygiene supplies are among
the items in World Vision's distribution to assist more than 6,000
people in urgent need in Minami Sanriku, where 9,600 townspeople have
been displaced into 40 shelters." Source
<http://www.worldvision.org/home.nsf/pages/home.htm?Open&Open&campaign=1
05418218&readMore=true#/home/world-vision-news/japan-earthquake-2-1356>
. News may be found in Japanese here
<http://www.worldvision.jp/news/news_0589.html> .
