Recently, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Howard Baker wrote to Mr. Minoru Mori, President of Mori Building Company to thank him, "on behalf of those in Japan for (his) kindness in providing a storage location for disaster relief supplies. . .and essential items such as bottled water,blankets, clothing and canned food and, in the event of a disaster, emergency housing.

"Your help will go far to bring assurance and peace of mind to many members of the international community in Tokyo," he wrote.

The facility Baker was talking about is a six-story building in central Tokyo within walking distance of dozens of embassies, government offices, international organizations and the largest concentration of members of the international community in Japan.

First envisioned in 1995, when Kobe was struck by a massive earthquake, and nearly 10,000 people lost their lives, the project has been seven years in the making. A joint effort of organizations assisting within the international community, students from various Tokyo area universities and the Mori Building Company, the dream has finally become a reality.

Following the Kobe Earthquake, a number of organizations involved with assisting the international community became alarmed at the difficulty members of the international community experienced in looking for assistance during the ensuing panic.

Simply finding out where to get help and even just a place to stay for a couple days was nearly impossible. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, for example, thousands of Japanese were stranded not only in New York, but throughout the country, completely unable to understand what had happened. Various Japanese language hotlines and assistance services were flooded with calls from enquiring Japanese.

One such service, the Nihongo 110 Ban received nearly 1,000 calls, over 13,000 E-mails and 2.7 million Web site hits, mostly from Japanese both overseas as well as in Japan desperate to get information. Following the Kobe earthquake, a similar situation occurred, when similar lines in Japan were flooded with nearly 3,000 calls from members of the international community, as well as friends and relatives overseas.

In the event of a disaster in Tokyo, members of the international community can come to the facility for assistance, food, clothing, water and, if needed, an emergency place to stay.

Immediately following the Sept. 11 attacks, the Mori Building Company kindly offered space for storage of supplies and additional needs, giving birth to the center. Currently under development, the site is made up of a ground floor parking facility, a second floor, where Internet and a resting area, with the rest of the floors housing disaster supplies, including water, blankets, instant food, milk, tents, clothing and other emergency supplies. Currently, the facility is outfitted with Internet and satellite TV.

However, much support is still needed from the community to bring the Japan Disaster Center up to scratch, including much needed donations of supplies.

More information for potential sponsors, volunteers and those who wish to register their info at: www.disaster.com