Students, communities assist in Kobe quake relief

Published: Wednesday, February 8, 1995

NSU, JACCC collect food, clothing sponsor dance to aid disaster victims

By Ben Gilmore

Last month's devastating 7.2 earthquake ravaged the Japanese city of Kobe, leaving tens of thousands homeless and lacking basic living necessities. Some of the quake victims may find help from thousands of miles away, as UCLA students become involved in relief efforts.

The Nikkei Student Union (NSU), in cooperation with the Japanese Consulate, is partaking in a large-scale relief effort which has received a tremendous community response.

The student group, composed mostly of third- and fourth-generation Japanese Americans, has been sending volunteers to Little Tokyo's Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC), where they help send clothes, food and other essential supplies to Kobe, according to Stephanie Akano, president of the group.

For some UCLA students involved in the relief effort, the memory of last year's 6.6 Northridge quake, which occurred exactly one year before the Kobe quake, has been a strong motivational force.

"Our reasons for helping out are mostly personal," said Akano. "This has really brought back memories of last year."

Residents of the Northridge area have been especially motivated to help.

"I am a Chinese American and I lived in Chatsworth, which was hit very hard by the Northridge quake," said Erika Gee, a member of NSU working on the relief campaign.

Donations to the fund have been most generous from Northridge quake victims, said group member Kats Kunitsubu, citing the contribution of 25 boxes of childrens' clothes by a Northridge family that sustained $100,000 in property damage.

The JACCC is working on the campaign with the Japanese consulate and the Japan-America Society, a nonprofit organization which exists mainly to bridge gaps between the U.S. and Japan, said member Hana Oshima. She added the group has raised over $820,000 for Kobe.

Efforts at the JACCC have also been successful and have elicited a tremendous response from the community, said staff.

"It's amazing," said Kunitsubu of the community support, reporting that the campaign has collected over 1,300 boxes of clothes and other supplies since Jan. 25, including two truckloads from San Luis Obispo transported by the National Guard. The donated supplies are then flown to Kobe via Japan and All Nippon Airlines.

In addition to assisting at the JACCC, NSU members have been at tables on Bruin Walk soliciting donations to the Kobe relief fund, said Akano.

Akano added that NSU is holding a dance in conjunction with the Association of Chinese Americans, where 25 percent of all proceeds will go to the relief fund.

Those interested in making donations to help Kobe can make checks payable to the Kobe Relief Fund and mail them to: c/o Japan-America Society of Southern California, 505 S. Flower St., Level C, Los Angeles, CA 90071.