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Japanese Society of NMI aims to raise $5K
The Japanese Society of Northern Marianas is aiming to raise $5,000 to help the recovery efforts of earthquake victims in Kumamoto and Oita prefectures last month. Kumamoto City was the hardest hit as the 7.3-magnitude tremor left people without water while numerous structures—modern and historical buildings—collapsed or caught fire.
JSNM vice president Hiroko Tenorio said this was the goal set by their president Junichi Kitagawa, who has been leading their fundraising efforts. Kitagawa, Tenorio, and several of their members were at the opening of the Taste of the Marianas last Saturday at the American Memorial Park to ask for everyone’s support.
Tenorio said Kumamoto City is slowly getting back to normal and they have been experiencing lesser aftershocks. Several aftershocks were recorded at magnitude 5.3, causing a lot of houses to collapse.
She added that the city government would want to complete their inspection of every home and building before telling the people that it is now safe to go back to their houses.
“Kumamoto is getting less and less tremors still the city government won’t allow the people to go back to their homes until they are sure it is now safe for everyone. People are still living in shelters,” said Tenorio.
JSNM will be at the Taste of the Marianas for three more Saturdays with their booth located near the stage. They started their fundraising efforts on April 28 at the Thursday Night Street Market.
“We will also be at the Thursday Street Market the entire month of May after the [Department of Community and Cultural Affairs] asked us to come back and continue our fundraising,” added Tenorio.
JSNM is also selling $5 raffle tickets where they will be giving away lunch and dinner buffet gift certificates, waterpark passes, and room stays. They will finish their fundraising on May 26 at the Thursday Street Market and May 28, the final day of the Taste of the Marianas.
All cash donations and proceeds from the raffle would be deposited to an account at the Bank of Guam and have it transferred to the city governments of Kumamoto and Oita.
For more information, call Kitagawa at 483-6421 or Tenorio at 483-0614 or email goodcarespn@pticom.com, or JSNM vice president Masaki Inoue at 287-9376.
