Yoga for Japan Charity Drive

It is sad that natural disasters can and do happen, for our world is forever evolving. Not only does the people involved need material & physical help, there is also an emotional need to cope with the trauma of experiencing a catastrophe, followed by a period of mourning and sadness and lost, maybe even anger and frustration. Then the mammoth task of  picking up the pieces, rebuilding and recovering. My deepest condolences to the victims of Japan earthquake and victims in other countries suffering similar fate too.

There is a yoga charity drive (17 April)  where proceeds will be channelled to Japan Red Cross via JAGAM (Japanese Graduates of Malaysia).
http://www.klyoga.com/2011/04/06/yoga-for-japan-17-apri-2011/

Personally, i am saddened by Japan's suffering as i have worked with, admired their work ethic and learned  their craft, cuisine and culture. My first job (decades ago) was with JICA, a Japanese agency that came to Malaysia to help Malaysia with their expertise. We were involved in the transport study and planning for Johor Bahru. Had many memorable moments with the Japanese engineers that were seconded here. Although the language was quite a barrier, but friendship and respect transcends all barriers. A colleague who set up her own company after the project ended  is still in active contact with the agency. My sister was a music examiner for Technics  after getting her start with Yamaha Music school, both Japanese companies. She was sent for training and assessment in Tokyo.  My dad was tutored by a young Japanese lady named Miyagi from Okinawa. I learned Japanese traditional dance and even sewed a couple of yukatas to wear to the annual Bon Odori celebration in Matsushita stadium in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Even learned how to wear the yukata and tie variations of the obi. My school friend married  a Japanese executive & occasionally flies to Tokyo. Some frens also just opened up a shop selling vintage & pre-loved clothes from Japan. One of them is also married to a Japanese and is resident in Malaysia. Another fren spent more than a decade in Japan - having arrived not knowing how to speak their language & eventually learned enough to have successful business ties with Japanese companies there. Middle of last year, I was at Japan Club in KL to attend the Japanese Speech competition (where Malaysians pit their Japanese oratorial skills with each other) and later saw a demonstration on furoshiki (ways to carry items by tying a piece of cloth).

Such is their influence on me and many other Malaysians who grew up with Ultraman, Naruto, manga, karaoke, Jusco, Sogo, Matshita, Toyota, sushi & sashimi, to name a few.