Wagashi in Portland

Raising funds

It has come to our attention that raising funds without being a registered charity is illegal.  Therefore our event on April 3rd will be to share a bowl of tea in remembrance of the Japanese people.  For those who wish to donate to the cause, we will have a list of registered charities that you can donate funds.   We apologize for expectations for our event.   Thank you to those who have registered.  Please come share a bowl of tea and sweets.

Fundraiser for Japan

On Sunday, April 3rd from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, the Ryokusuido Tea Group will be hosting a fundraiser. Please join us for a bowl of tea and sweets at Ryokusuido Tea House. All donations will go to relief for those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. 

Please call 503-645-7058 for reservations.

Donations for Japan

I cannot tell you how worrying and traumatic it has been the past week watching the news and waiting to hear from friends and family members in Japan.  Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was affected by the earthquakes and tsunami.   We are concerned with the ongoing humanitarian crisis and threat of nuclear disaster as well.  

On April 3rd,  we will be having a fundraising event at Ryokusuido for the people in Japan.  More details to come.   In the meantime, if you'd like to donate here are some suggestions:
AMERICAN RED CROSS

Red Cross officials say donors can text REDCROSS to 90999 and a $10 donation will automatically be charged to donor’s phone bill, or donations can be made directly on its Web site.

In addition to the Red Cross, people have also suggested these websites:

MERCY CORPS

CIVIC-FORCE.ORG

JAPANESE CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY CENTER OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES

PEACE WINDS AMERICA

JAPAN SOCIETY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

And even if you're broke, you can try to raise awareness:

http://www.newser.com/story/114071/japan-earthquake-how-you-can-help.html?utm_source=part&utm_medium=inbox&utm_campaign=newser

This list is from the New York Times website. (More information about giving, for this and other causes, is available online from the GuideStar database and CharityWatch.org on nonprofit agencies and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.)

AMERICAN RED CROSS
Red Cross officials say donors can text REDCROSS to 90999 and a $10 donation will automatically be charged to donor’s phone bill, or donations can be made directly on its Web site.
AMERICARES
Information is available on the organization’s Web site.
CARE
CARE is one of the world’s largest private international humanitarian organizations. Their offices in Asia are on high alert and have ensured that staff are informed of the tsunami warnings and other related developments.
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
Information is available on the organization’s Web site.
GLOBALGIVING.ORG
GlobalGiving is working with International Medical Corps, Save the Children, and other organizations on the ground to disburse funds to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Donors can text JAPAN to 50555 to give $10, and larger increments can be submitted on GlobalGiving’s Web site.
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS
Information is available on the organization’s Web site.
LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL
Information is available on the organization’s Web site.
THE SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army has been providing food and shelter to Tokyo commuters who were stranded when public transportation was interrupted by the earthquake. They are to send a team to Sendai, a city about 250 miles Tokyo, to assess the situation there. Text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to make a $10 donation. (Make sure to respond “YES” to the Thank You message you receive.) Donations can also be made on the organization’s Web site or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
SAVE THE CHILDREN
To make a donation, visit Save the Children’s Web site, call 1-800-728-3843, or text JAPAN to 20222 to donate $10.
SHELTERBOX.ORG
Shelterbox.org is a disaster-relief organization that focuses on providing survival materials such as tents and cooking equipment to families displaced by disasters.
UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK
Information is available on the organization’s Web site or by calling (212) 836-1486.

Slow Down

I am very seldom sick, but I have been under the weather for about a week.  During my convalescence I was thinking of all the things I was not getting done and fretting over how many appointments, classes and meetings I had to cancel.   Mostly, though I slept a lot, drank a lot of tea, and read.  How indulgent it was.   Now I am back to the world and feel really energized.  I have made new lists for everything and am catching up on all of my undone tasks.  I do have a few posts that I would like to get to, and a few requests, but for right now,  the enforced slow down of my life due to illness seemed like a time out from the relentlessness of having to do something.  Just a little sign to take some time out.  Like they say, "Don't just do something, sit there."

P.S. Thank you to all of my well wishers for my birthday.  The celebration continues as it is still my birthday week today, and golly we're not even half way through celebrating my birthday month, let alone one third of the way through my birthday year.

Chakai

Minako Sensei

Ume hana goromo

Sweets from Yumeya