London-based DJ and journalist Laurent Fintoni was on holiday in Japan when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck last year. Following the disaster, he used the rest of his vacation to organize "Nihon Kizuna," an electronic-music compilation album that raised more than $30,000 for victims of the catastrophe.
To mark the one-year anniversary of the quake, Fintoni and his network are organizing a two fundraising events to aid the Japanese Red Cross Society. The events will be held in both Tokyo and London, with the Tokyo event featuring eight Japanese (or Japan-based) artists including Himuro Yoshiteru, Broken Haze, XLII, Yosi Horikawa, and A Taut Line.
Those who can't attend either show in person can watch the events via live-streaming website Ustream for a combined 15 hours of celebration and awareness.
NK One Year Later: Tokyo will be held March 11 at Be-Wave in Shinjuku, Tokyo (5 p.m. till 11 p.m.). Entry is free, but donations are appreciated at the door. For more information about the original compilation and where to watch both events via live-streaming, visit www.nihonkizuna.com.