On March 11, just 1 month ago, an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit just off the east coast of Japan, triggering a 28-foot tsunami that devastated the coast, killing thousands of people and sweeping away cars and buildings. But the impact of this catastrophe was not localized and has been felt far beyond the shores of Japan. On campus, the Brandeis Japanese population was in shock as they watched parts of their home country become submerged in flood and turn to ruins.

"I was just really shocked to see the tsunami waves wiping all the cities along the coast," said Chiaki Fujiwara '11, a member and former treasurer of the Japanese Student Association, as well as one of the main organizers for the campuswide events and activities that have raise funds for Japan.

"I called my parents to see how they were because I was really worried how it was in my hometown, Tokyo. It was just utter shock for me," said Fujiwara. Fujiwara says the scenes of people suffering prompted her to do something. While she couldn't immediately do anything for the people of Japan, she decided to start something on campus.

During the past few weeks, various activities and events dedicated to raising funds for the relief efforts in Japan have been apparent around campus. Bracelets that say "Pray For Japan" and "Hope for Japan" and cost $3 each or $5 for 2 have been sold in the Shapiro Campus Center.

Donations from the coat check during the Inaugural Ball and proceeds from the sale of tickets to the Harumatsuri, an event hosted by the Japanese Student Association, have been among the Brandeis efforts to aid Japan relief. The Waltham Group sponsored a performance of kyogen, traditional Japanese comic theater, to raise money for Japan. Aramark also contributed by donating 10 percent of all profits made on the first day of the Village Provisions on Demand Market.

According to Fujiwara, various student groups also helped the cause. The Student Union, Waltham Group, the Brandeis Asian American Student Association as well as the South Asian Students Association have been among the other groups involved. Together, the Brandeis community has already raised $5,899.03 dollars and is still raising more.

"To find out that most of the other clubs were also interested [in contributing to the relief efforts] motivated me and other members of the Japanese community here," Fujiwara said. One of the major difficulties the Japanese Student Association faced, however, was getting the funds to organize these events.

"The JSA had no money," Fujiwara said. "Professor Yoshida, an associate professor in the Biology Department, was very helpful in helping us raise money and we received an anonymous contribution from a member of [the] faculty," she said.

"We thought we should contribute a little to support the Japanese community and people who are suffering," explained Yoshida, who stresses strongly-and is impressed by-the leadership roles that students, including Fujiwara; Nan Pang '13, co-president of the JSA; and Mayo Hirabayashi '11 assumed in tackling the problem at hand.

"It was actually Pang and Hirabayashi who brought me to their discussion group," Yoshida explained. "They were already discussing what to do, and when I joined, we decided to sell bracelets," he added. "It was the most practical option." Pang, who was studying for an exam at the time of the earthquake, found out about the disaster while checking his e-mail.

"That day I was checking the news online constantly. It was really depressing to see the death toll increasing hour by hour," Pang explained.

"Chiaki contacted me and asked to organize something." As part of the JSA, Pang and Fujiwara met up with others to discuss how they would approach the urgent issue and what the most effective means to achieve success would be.

Hirabayashi, a community advisor and also one of the pioneers of the bracelet campaign, initially tried to organize activities to aid relief in the CA community and other communities with which she was involved and eventually ended up working with the JSA.

"When we started selling the bracelets, on the first couple of days, it was really big. People were asking about it all the time," Hirabayashi explained.

"Even if they didn't buy the bracelets, a lot of people just donated," she said. Pang put up donation boxes all around the campus and the JSA attested to how well people responded to that. Hirabayashi and Pang both agree that even though the Japanese population on campus is small, it received a positive response from the Brandeis community.

So far, part of the money raised has been donated to Oxfam, an international confederation aimed at tackling poverty. Other portions of the money has gone to Oxfam Japan, the Red Cross and the American Red Cross. Additional proceeds from Hoops for Haiti were also geared towards the cause. Though the proceeds are still trickling in, Hirabayashi hopes that the total proceeds will exceed $6,000.

The destructive aftereffects of the earthquake still rage on in Japan, and on April 7 a particularly strong aftershock with a magnitude of 7.4 further devastated the coast.

Although creating awareness and raising funds for the people of Japan have been largely successful, some feel that initial momentum and attention have dwindled somewhat.

"I think it takes more than understanding; people also need to remember that the impact of the earthquake is ongoing," Hirabayashi said.

"There are still numerous issues that need to be addressed-misplaced people, people without shelter and the imminent problem of the radiation leak from an affected nuclear power plant," she said.

While there is still more work to be done, the Brandeis community has nevertheless stepped up in the efforts for Japan throughout the past month, according to Hirabayashi.

"I think that [the efforts were] pretty successful. A lot of people were concerned about our family and loved ones, and a lot of people actually cared about what happened," she said.

Editor's note: Nan Pang '13 is an editorial assistant for the Justice.