One month after Japan’s disastrous earthquake and subsequent tsunami and nuclear crisis, the country is trying to recover and rebuild.
People across the world are donating millions for relief, and people in and around the University are no different.
Yoshinori Kamo, sociology associate professor, and his two sons, international trade and finance sophomore Kenta and University alumnus Shota, have joined forces to rally the University community to help Japan.
Shota Kamo, a bartender at Bogie’s Bar and Grill, helped organize Bogie’s Japan Relief Palooza on March 24, and Kenta Kamo is working on T-shirt sales to raise money for relief.
Kenta designed the T-shirt himself, and the family has sold 566 shirts at $20 apiece, totaling more than $10,000. The T-shirts bear the slogan “Hope, Help, Heal.”
Yoshinori Kamo said they are trying to sell 1,000 shirts. Kenta Kamo, a member of Theta Xi fraternity, is using the Greek system as an outlet to gain awareness and support.
“It was my dad’s idea at first, and he brought it up to me because I had experience designing T-shirts, and we just went from there,” Kenta said. “I work at Red Stick Sports and they do screen printing, and they paid for the first 200 shirts.”
Yoshinori Kamo is originally from Tokyo and moved to Seattle when he was 25. He said he goes back to Japan every year with his sons. When they return in the summer, Kenta and Shota even attend public school there for a couple months.
“Both are bilingual. They both feel a strong tie to Japan,” Yoshinori said. “Particularly my older son. He has a lot of friends there.”
Yoshinori said his sons are going back to Japan next winter for six months — Kenta for an exchange program and Shota for fun and work.
Much of the Kamos’ family and friends live in Tokyo, but everyone was accounted for after the earthquake and tsunami.
“My entire extended family lives there and my brother actually did something at Bogie’s, and I felt like I should probably do something, too,” Kenta Kamo said.
The Kamos encourage students and supporters to buy shirts online at hopeforjapantshirts.com or to visit Yoshinori Kamo’s office at 139 Stubbs Hall.
Proceeds from the T-shirts will go to Save the Children: Japan Earthquake Tsunami Relief.
 
_____
Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected]