Love to Nippon 2015, a memorial event commemorating the four-year anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, will take place on Sunday, March 8, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Japanese American National Museum Courtyard and Plaza, 111 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo.
A memorial program will follow at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum from 3:30 to 7 p.m.
Presented by Japan America Society of Southern California (JASSC), Nichi Bei Fujin Kai (Japan America Women’s Organization) and Love to Nippon Project, this peaceful event is a community-wide tribute to loved ones lost and for those still suffering from the March 11, 2011 catastrophe.
The memorial will include special prayers and a commemorative program with Japanese classical dance and musical tributes from local community and religious organizations as well as Japan.
Guest speakers will also share how people can continue to help and encourage the victims in Japan to rebuild their lives. Booths will be presented by Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate prefectural organizations in Southern California. There will be a musical tribute by Los Angeles Todo-Kai, as well as emergency preparedness material from the American Red Cross Los Angeles Regional Headquarters, A Plus Survival Supply, L.A. County Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard and others.
From 1:30 to 2 p.m., Battalion Chief Larry Collins and David Stone of the Los Angeles Fire Department, first responders in Japan, will lead a discussion on what Los Angeles is doing to prepare for its own potential earthquake and tsunami. There will also be remarks by Chief Daryl L. Osby.
A Nikkei interfaith service will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m., emceed by Lori Gardea and Toby Mallen of Nichi Bei Fujin Kai, and Kay Inose and Kitty Sankey of Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California.
The memorial program at the Democracy Forum will feature a video performance by Kitakami Elementary School in Miyagi Prefecture.
Filmmaker Regge Life will show a preview screening of “Live Your Dreams: The Taylor Anderson Story,” followed by a question-and-answer session. The film will be shown from 5:15 to 7 p.m.
Anderson, a teacher on the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) program in the city of Ishinomaki, died in the disaster. Life’s film documents to positive impact that her life had and continues to have on U.S.-Japan relations.
The program will conclude with a candlelight service led by Rev. Mark Nakagawa of Centenary United Methodist Church.
Seating is limited. Early reservations are recommended. For more information, contact the Japan America Society at info@jas-socal.org or call (213) 627-6217.