[StBernard] Hurricane Aid Japan to present donation to Governor Blanco

[Westley Annis]

Hurricane Aid Japan to present donation to Governor Blanco 

Baton Rouge, La- Ms. Reiko Yukawa, a preeminent Japanese jazz critic, and
Ms. Aiko Okawara, one of Japan's most active and awarded businesswomen, both
of Hurricane Aid Japan, met with Governor Kathleen Blanco at the Governor's
Mansion today to present a donation of $100,000 to the Louisiana Disaster
Recovery Foundation.

Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, Ms. Yukawa, who has more than four
decades experience as a music critic and lyricist and is known as the
'godmother' of the Japanese music industry, began contacting musicians and
other industry professionals to put together a relief fund. Shocked and
saddened by what she was seeing on TV in the days following the storm, Ms.
Yukawa knew it was time to act. "Japan's music industry and musicians
themselves have received so much inspiration from the jazz and blues that
flowed from New Orleans to all parts of the world, and now it is time for
all of us to gather together and give back to those who gave us so much",
she stated in her call to action.

Together with Ms. Okawara, who is leading advocate of women's rights and has
won numerous Woman of the Year awards in Japan, Ms. Yukawa held a press
conference on September 21, 2005, with Dr. John-who was then touring in
Japan-to announce the formation of Hurricane Aid Japan. Also present on that
day to lend their support to the project were many prominent figures from
Japan's entertainment industry including jazz trumpeter Terumasa Hino and
clarinetist Eiji Kitamura, actor Hiroyuki Watanabe, jazz pianist Saya, pop
vocalist Akiko Wada, and TV producer and commentator Dave Spector. Thanks to
the hard work of such individuals, as of spring 2006, more than $100,000 had
been raised, and the contributions continue.

Mss. Yukawa and Okawara, who recently received a Certificate of Appreciation
from the US Embassy in Tokyo for their fundraising efforts, delivered their
message of support to the people of Louisiana during their meeting with
Governor Blanco. 

Hurricane Aid Japan (HAJ) is a good-will volunteer organization comprised of
business leaders, artists, musicians, and other like-minded Japanese
citizens, eager to help the people of New Orleans in the restoration and
maintenance of their rich and vibrant city. Some notable members of HAJ
include Mr. Hideki Samejima (musician), Mr. Katsuhisa Hattori (musician),
Ms. Michiko Suzuki (music critic), and Mr. Yoshio Toyama (jazz musician and
honorary citizen of the City of New Orleans). 

Questions about this visit and Hurricane Aid Japan should be directed to
Robert Mann at the Consulate-General of Japan in New Orleans (504 529 2101
or info at cgjneworleans.org). 
To learn more about activities and functions of the consulate, please visit
our website, http://www.neworleans.us.emb-japan.go.jp
<http://keelson.eatel.net/websites/la.gov/action.cfm?md=communication&task=a
ddClick&msg_ID=1585&ID=dKi%5FeiiBn%23n%2A&redirect=http://www.neworleans.us.
emb-japan.go.jp> .



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The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation Louisiana's Fund for Louisiana's
People www.louisianahelp.org