'Piedmont Day' Sushi Wednesday to Raise Funds for Japan

The devastation caused by one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history has sent shockwaves across the world. Closer to home, Piedmont community groups and businesses are exploring ways to aid relief efforts in Japan.

On Wednesday, March 30, restaurant on Piedmont Avenue will donate 20 percent of its earnings to victims of the Japanese earthquake. The gift will be matched by the Piedmont Asian American Society (PAAC), making every mouthful a charitable contribution.

PAAC Co-President Angela Hom plans to bring her family and friends for a meal and encourages other Piedmont residents to do the same. All proceeds from "Piedmont Day," as the PAAC is calling it, will be donated to the American Red Cross. 

"We at PAAC really want to step up and make a donation," said Hom. "It's really important. In terms of catastrophe and damage and death, the earthquake in Japan was horrifying."

Piedmont Councilwoman Margaret Fujioka contacted Hom after residents began enquiring what Piedmont was doing to benefit Japan. Hom started looking for a way for the PAAC to partner with the community in a fundraising effort and found Shimizu Sushi, a Japanese restaurant on Piedmont Avenue. Owner Danny Lee pledged to donate 20 percent of the restaurant's earnings on a single day to aid Japan, and the Piedmont Asian American Club agreed to match funds raised. 

Although the majority of the club's members are Chinese-American, according to Hom, there are a few Japanese-American families in the PAAC, and many relationships with people in Japan. 

Hom received an email from friends in Yokohama this week. "They're fine," said Hom. "They're shaken up. They're very worried and nervous about food supply, but they're bolstered by all the outpouring of energy that people are sending them."

The Piedmont Asian American Club was started in 1987 by a group of parents who wanted to maintain their Asian American identity, said Hom. Since, the organization has grown from a small group to more than 200 members. Families are given the option to join the PAAC online when they register their children for middle and high school. 

The club hosts a range of cultural events, such as author readings, in addition to traditional Asian celebrations like the . Board meetings are held at member residences, and events take place at school venues, such as the auditorium at Beach Elementary School. 

As a means of providing "a forum and a resource for Asian American issues" in Piedmont, the club also offers informational workshops aimed at the entire family. These range from college essay writing and UC admissions procedures to personal safety and even earthquake preparedness.

Hom says that the American Red Cross was chosen to receive the funds raised on "Piedmont Day" because donations have been less robust in the case of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami than in other catastrophic disasters in recent years, such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake. 

Some reasons may include public burnout, Hom said, or the fact that Japan is a wealthy, industrialized country and therefore may not seem to need as much support.

The Japanese Red Cross chose not to launch an international appeal after the earthquake and instead publicized that, while they are grateful for all donations, "external assistance is not required." The American Red Cross, however, is encouraging donations to Japan and says that any unused contributions, if such exist after the totality of the Japanese earthquake has been fully realized, will be used "to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters." This, the American Red Cross says, would be a "rare" occurrence. 

"These people have lost everything," said Hom. "Their infrastructure has been debilitated by this. If this happened here, which is highly industrialized, we would need help too. I'm just hoping people will understand that."

Eat for Japan, Wednesday, March 30:

Shimizu Sushi, 4290 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611.

Lunch Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dinner Hours: 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.