(Note the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco has announced that their donation program will end March 12, 2012.)

Posted March 17, 2011.

The San Jose-Okayama Sister City Organization Board of Directors met on February 14, 2011 and discussed how we can support the people of Japan in there efforts to restore their life and lifestyles after the triple disasters of earthquakes, tsunami and nuclear power station failures. While we recognize that there are many ways to donate, we wanted to be sure that the Japanese people were able to have first access. They asked the President and Secretary to research the best mechanism for that.

We have been informed by the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco that they have set up an account with United Bank and that persons or groups from California or Nevada can send checks to them or deposit in the account. The URL of their instructions is shown below. The key information is also shown. The Consulate will send all of the funds to the Japan Red Cross.

The members of the board and attending citizen members also voted to contribute $ 1,000 from the organizations fund. Moneys for that come from prior fund raising, not from the City of San Jose. We will use the SF Consultate path for that donation. Members and interested parties are free to send donations directly to the consulate. If you wish our assistance, contact the Secretary, Bob Green.

We also wish to inform you that Google is offering a contribution page with a link to send money directly to the Japan Red Cross (yen denominations) or other international support organizations. We have not investigated other organizations shown on that  page. Click here for the Google page.

Information from the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco: (link to their page)
(they have additional information on their page)

Recently we have been receiving numerous requests from individuals and organizations in California and Nevada seeking to make donations to the earthquake and Tsunami relief. In response to this strong desire of so many people who want to contribute, the Consulate General has established a special bank account “Tohoku Pacific Earthquake” for receiving donations of support as of 9AM today, March 15. You can deposit your donation at this Account, or send a check to the Consulate General. Please see below for details. Donations are planned to be remitted to the Japanese Red Cross Society. Sending a personal check to the Consulate General of Japan   Payable to: Consulate General of Japan Send to: Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco (Attention “Japan Earthquake Relief Fund”) 50 Fremont St., Suite 2300, San Francisco, CA 94105     Union Bank Donation Account deposit information   Account name: Consulate General of Japan Account number: 1040037760   ABA Number： 122000496   Address: 1675 Post Street, San Francisco, CA94115-3699   Telephone Number: 1-800-238-4486       [Note]   -The Consulate General is NOT accepting cash donations.