Despite the steep drop off in media attention on Japan, we are working hard to keep our Facebook followers up to date on news from Japan. GlobalGiving is not only continuing to support organizations that are distributing the essentials, but are also now supporting medium and long term rebuilding efforts. One project has concentrated efforts in Kesennuma to support teachers, parents, and firefighters to reopen the local kindergarten so that life may return to normal. See their updates here.

Following the $75,757 from the auction, we’ve added another $13,744 through direct tax-deductible donations, Cafe Press purchases, and donations from HFJ artists. We’re just $499 short of $90,000, so please consider helping Handmade For Japan over this significant milestone by either making a tax-deductible donation online or buying something from our Cafe Press store.

While there are many interesting and worthy art-related projects benefiting Japan, we’d like to mention two in particular.
Mashiko, a pottery center north of Tokyo made famous by Shoji Hamada (see his auction piece), was hit particularly hard by the earthquakes. All of the more than 400 studios and kilns there were damaged or destroyed an will need a considerable amount of help to rebuild. Ayumi, one of the HFJ organizers, traveled there at the end of April, and witnessed first-hand the havoc (see the collapsed arch on the kiln). The town has setup a fund for rebuilding efforts.

Uncanny Terrain, a film that will document the response of organic farmers in the area just outside the evacuation zone of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The filmmakers are currently trying to raise funding for their trip on May 23rd to Japan and for production.

.Handmade For Japan gear comes to Cafe Press!
100% of the money that you pay for your Handmade For Japan item will go to GlobalGiving’s Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. This is made possible through the generous support of an anonymous donor who will underwrite the portion of your purchase that would normally go to Cafe Press. The more items you buy, the more money will be donated to help the people of Japan.

We are proud to announce that with the help of generous artists, galleries, donors and bidders, we have raised $75,757.55! Thank you to all of you who helped spread the word, engaged with us on Facebook, and supported our efforts for Japan.

We are continuing to fund raise, please click here to donate.

.アーティースト、ギャラリー、寄贈者、入札者の協力により、オークションでは合計75,757.55ドルを東日本大震災被災者支援のために集めることができました！

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100% of the auction proceeds will be donated to GlobalGiving’s Earthquake and Tsunami Fund. If you wish to make a monetary donation to Global Giving in Handmade For Japan’s name, please click here.

収益の全てはグローバルギビングの東日本大震災被災者支援ファンドに寄付されます。直接グローバルギビングに寄付したい方はこちら。

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A special thanks to volunteers
以下のボランティアに感謝します：

Kelly Severns Curtis
Dave Gordon
Shino Arihara
Tai Ming Cheung
Vic Manzella
VJ Manzella
Leslie Melvin
Robin Whitlock
Jen Woodin
Jen Jeglinski
Cristin O’Neal
Erin Enouen
Lynn Bondar
Amanda Pirwitz
Margaret Matsuyama

Handmade for Japan consists of three friends who mobilized to help disaster victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Northern Japan on March 11, 2011. Within two weeks of the disaster, the group successfully held an online auction of unique, handmade art donated by artists and galleries in North America, Japan, Denmark, and France. In ongoing fundraising efforts, more than $81,000 has been raised, with all net proceeds donated to GlobalGiving’s relief efforts in Japan.

ハンドメイドフォージャパンは２０１１年３月１１日に北日本を襲 った大地震の被災者のために立ち上がった仲間３人のグループです。震災後２週間という記録的スピードで北アメリカ、日本、デンマーク、フランスのアーティストたちを組織し、手作りでユニークな作品をオンラインオークションにかけました。オークションの収益とその後の募金活動を含め、これまでに８万１千ドル以上をグローバルギビングの被災者支援のために集めることに成功しています。