The concert they were going to have has been canceled.
The theater is also closed with no opening date set.
AKB has also set up a charity fund for earthquake victims all proceeds go to the Japanese Red Cross but it only seems to be for people in Japan to donate at the moment. Members, staff and Akimoto have donated.
The account details translated thanks to loveandcoffee at Stage48.
Spoiler:
It's a bank transfer, you can't send them money unless they give you a IBAN code, but they're only giving out coordinates for transferring within the country.
＜Charity account 1＞
Risona Bank (bank code 0010)
Shibuya branch (branch number 473)
Account number：2871105
Account name ：AKB48 Purojekuto Gienkin (AKB48 Project Charity Fund)
＜Charity account 2＞
Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ Bank (bank code 0005)
Gotanda branch (branch number 537)
Account number：0167382
Account name ：AKB48 Purojekuto Gienkin (AKB48 Project Charity Fund)
＜Please note＞
※Please pay all transfer fees
※If you have enquiries about the Charity Fund, please address them to gienkin@aks48.com
There are a lot of updates to Togasaki's (AKB theater manger) blog.
Thanks to loveandcoffee at Stage48.
East Japan Giant Earthquake (2011-03-12 23:49:14)
Spoiler:
I have returned a while ago from Hong Kong and have finally been able to learn the details of the effects caused by the East Japan earthquake and of the situation of the hit regions.
The changes in the coast, the anxiety on the sheltered people's faces, the fact that the lifeline hasn't been restored yet (I don't know if it's Japanese-made English, lifeline = gas, water, electricity, transportation, phone, all these facilities)... I felt irritated at being so powerless and not being able to do anything in front of nature's immense power.
I received many messages from the fans, asking "Is there something we can do?"
I would like the hundreds of thousands fans throughout Japan to join forces to support as much as possible the areas struck by the quake.
Something we can immediately do is to conserve energy.
If people who really need electricity can be saved by our conserving energy, turning off the heating is no big deal.
Through AKB we discovered the power that each single human being has.
There are times when this can turn into a negative power, but I know that the hugeness of the positive power that's created when everyone joins forces is an unbelievable thing.
Moreover, I believe that the fans, too, know the amazingness of the power of an united mass.
Please, remember the concerts in big venues, the Saitama Super Arena event held the other day, the Theatre Version handshake events in Makuhari Messe.
And then, please remember what we always say: "Let's join all our forces".
If taken singularly, each person's strenght doesn't amount to much.
It's true that if a single person turns the heating off it might look useless.
But if the people who thought "Okay, let's turn off the heating" are thousands or millions, they'll be able to send to the areas struck by the quake an unbelievable power.
And I believe that AKB48 now can really do this.
So please think once again about the situation. I would like you to think that people are dying.
For example, what if now that I'm writing this blog entry a quake hit, and after that a tsunami came?
I would panic and wouldn't have time to do or think anything.
For the victims who are in this state, we, who have time to do and think several things, should do all that's in our power!
First, let's conserve energy.
As soon as other things we can cooperate in doing are announced, we AKB48 will join forces and collaborate!
And now, an announcement.
We will postpone the sale of Yokohama Arena concert tickets, which was supposed to start tomorrow.
The reason, of course, is because a big tragedy is going on.
At the moment it's all I can say.
I hope from the bottom of my heart that as many victims as possible are rescued, and that they can meet again their families as soon as possible.
Announcement about theatre shows (2011-03-13 22:30:00)
You're not alone (2011-03-14 09:38:53)
Spoiler:
60 hours have passed from that moment.
When I think about the feelings of the people in the quake-struck area, my heart hurts.
"One of the biggest in the world"
"Radioactivity"
"Unprecedented"
"Scheduled blackouts"
Is it possible to make a calm judgement on these words we hear for the first time and are happening in our reality?
I don't understand it.
The only thing I can say is that we're all experiencing this for the first time in our lives.
Even the people who are on missions to rescue the victims are at their first experience.
Everyone is anxious.
But please, try to think about it.
The people in the struck areas are even more anxious.
There are people who have no lifeline and are in places where even rescuers can't enter.
There are people who are waiting for rescuers to appear.
And despite this, there are people here who complicate information or send out heartless chain mails...
As a human being, they make me sad.
I feel sad that there are people who despite this situation think it's funny to confuse people.
And there are many people who are angry, too.
Of course I understand that in such an uneasy situation one cannot keep their composure.
But the government, the companies, the rescue teams are doing their utmost best to face their first "emergency situation".
No one is going to be saved by what we are doing now.
In doing something no one else has done there are always risks accompanying it.
Let's understand that they actually didn't mean to confuse anyone.
And let's tell the people in the disaster area, too, the situation here.
Here, people from all the countries in the world are sending relief supplies, donations, rescue teams.
People from all over the world are worried for the tragedy that happened suddenly there.
Amazingly, I feel that not only Japan, but the whole world has united.
People from all over the world are stretching out their hands to our tragedy-struck Japan, without thinking about all that's happened in the past.
You're not alone.
I learned now how much courage this simple thought than give to people.
And then, we'll anything that's in our power to help the people in the quake areas!
Please, hold on just a little more.
You're not alone.
Announcement (2011-03-14 14:43:22)
Announcement of the setting up of a bank account for donations (2011-03-14 16:43:02)
Spoiler:
We send our heartfelt wishes to the people from the areas hit by the Tohoku Pacific earthquake.
In our AKB48 project, there are members who have been hit by the disaster. (he's most probably referring to indirect hit, maybe to family or acquaintances. He's saying members and not staff, so it's one of the girls... who else is from Tohoku beside Yuko?)
The project members have thought about what they can do, and as a result sending donations was proposed.
In that regard, we had a talk with the Japanese Red Cross and set up a bank account for donations. Immediately not only members, but also the staff and Akimoto general producers sent out their donations.
I have received quite a lot of enquiries from the fans too, so if you approve of our proposal, we will be glad to accept your donations to the account I will write below.
All the members of the AKB48 Project would like to send out your well wishes to the people in the areas hit by the quake.
In addition, we are thinking if there's something else we can do as AKB48 Project and we would like to turn this "thing only we can do" into shape.
On that occasion we will be happy to have the fans' cooperation.
Lastly, once again, all the members and staff pray from the bottom of our hearts that the people in the areas hit by the disaster will regain their peaceful lives again as soon as possible.
(details of bank accounts I've already translated)
March 14th, 23rd Heisei year
All the members of AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, SDN48
All the staff of AKB48 Project
About the cancellation of the Yokohama Arena concerts (2011-03-14 19:25:37)
Spoiler:
I have received a lot of opinions from many fans regarding the cancellation of the Yokohama Arena concerts we announced today.
This is the result of us thinking seriously about what we should give priority to in Japan's dangerous situation, and about what we could do as AKB48.
It took us extreme courage to cancel, not postpone, the concerts.
The donation account is another one of those results, too.
We are still pondering and planning what we could do from now on, our way, in order to give energy and courage to, obviously, people in the disaster-struck areas, but also to the whole Japan.
Personally, even now I listen to the news while my heart beats fast.
But especially because this is such a hard time, I feel more confident than ever that AKB have to be someone who can give energy and courage to everyone.
We have gotten over many dangerous times together with the fans, but we can't even start to compare those to the current serious situation.
But that's why we must get over it together, and start walking as soon as possible towards reconstruction.
In a natural disaster there are no enemies.
It's no one's fault.
In order to be able to see the people in the disaster-struck areas smile again as soon as possible let's all cooperate in support activities, and let's give courage to the victims!
Announcement of theatre closure (2011-03-14 23:00:00)
He is a really kind person. I think you should read them.
Apparently one of the newer Kenkyuseis is in a shelter some where? She's fine though. Who? People are still trying to figure that out. There was a Sanspo article and something on Yuko's blog that mentioned it apparently. You can check here about that.
I think what AKB is doing now is great. I think they can give people hope. I think it's good they set up na charity fund. Just when I thought I couldn't love them more.
Last edited by Amrai-chan; 15th March 2011 at 08:55 AM.
|