Message from His Excellency Mr Toshiro Ozawa, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of South Africa, 14 March 2011; and Information for those wishing to make donations to assist the affected population


2011 Tohoku District-off the Pacific Ocean Earthquake

I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of South Africa, as well as to the members of the international community, for the sympathy and empathy expressed through your countless telephone calls, e-mails and letters to our Embassy regarding the horrific damages caused by the earthquakes and tsunami which hit Japan on March 11th.   I thank you for your words of kindness and support, and above all for the hands of friendship with which you are reaching out to us, the people of Japan, in this difficult time.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Kan announced that the devastation and tragedy caused by the Tohoku-Kanto earthquake and tsunami present the most serious challenges for Japan in the last sixty-five years since the end of World War II.    He called upon the people of Japan, who have overcome so many crises in the past, to stand together and to rebuild an even better and stronger Japan.



For those wishing to follow the present situation regarding the aftermath of the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan, please consult the following websites:

The Prime Minister and his Cabinet Office Website: 2011 Tohoku District-off the Pacific Ocean Earthquake

http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/topics/2011/earthquake2011tohoku.html

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/incidents/index.html

Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency: Seismic Damage Information

http://www.nisa.meti.go.jp/english/



For those wishing to make a donation to assist the affected population of the earthquakes and tsunami, please direct your funds to the following bank account.   If you need a receipt, please state so clearly in the comment section of the bank transfer order.  All the funds received in this account will be transferred to the Distribution Committee, which is formed around the local governments of the disaster-affected prefecture to administer the distribution of the fund.

Name of Bank: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Name of Branch: Ginza     Tel: +81-3-3574-6511

Account No. : 8047670 (Ordinary Account)

SWIFT Code: SMBC JP JT

Payee Name: The Japanese Red Cross Society

Payee Address: 1-1-3 Shiba-Daimon Minato-ku, Tokyo JAPAN