Adding up number - it still is going up.

Yesterday, we finally managed to do Japan Tsunami Appeal at Hull University Student Union. Thanks for great help from volunteer people from the University, the University staff, Nippon Gohsei and our local friends from Japan, UK and the rest of world.

We had various activities and finally added up a total amount around 4 p.m yesterday.

so far, we raised...

£2710.15

and this number is still going up.

This is the total amount of cash and some cheques, which are confirmed to be processed later on Monday.

And I would like to say special thank you to a local company in Hull -Nippon Gohsei Ltd. The company offered to donate £1000 for our Tsunami Appeal. I hugely appreciate help from Mr. Hamada, Watanabe, Fujimura, and Uemura.

Also it cannot be forgotten to say very many thanks for our voluntary staff. We could not make this event without your effort! I do, massively, appreciate your help. Thank YOU.

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As for us or, rather, for me I should say, I had thought we Japanese had been a very small minorities in Hull, and felt almost powerless when just countable people had been in such a large area, across East Yorkshire. Overlooking something happening in places where we brought up, or know well, are extremely hard. And we are concerned if our family and friends there are coping ok.

There's a good thing throughout this Hull- Japan Tsunami Appeal.We had known that some Japanese had spread locally, in Yorkshire, though not had a chance to get together either. However, through the event, I thought this was the first time most Japanese in the area came to the same place and said hello to each other. This was an extremely rare opportunity for us, and it was a bonus of doing the fundraising event. I reassured that when something happens we can unite like as we did yesterday, not only Japanese but also locals, and people from all over the world. Thank you for your supports.

I have spoken to my father earlier today on skype. My family is in surbarban Tokyo and did not have massive damage from Tsunami. Though my family experienced huge impact from the earthquake. He told me something which came across to my mind too. He says:

"Although this was an unbelievable disaster we learnt one thing. We can unite. People probably had forgotten after the war, though, now, we learnt that Tohoku and the rest of Japan, and the rest of world can be united, to overcome this situation. That's what we learnt from the earthquake"

Yes, indeed. People in Hull are a part of that too. I am proud of everybody who helped us, and very much hopeful that our donation will be used for people who suffered from this disaster. Yet, still, people in Japan have the problems of radiation being spread in air and water from nuclear plants, and these will be a long-term issue. We hope, pray and try something with them. That's for sure.

Thank you for your thoughts and kind help everyone!

Lastly, I need to say greatest thank you for these girls.

Tough, gentle and wonderful organisers -Tomoko and Tsuneko - you are the stars!