BRAZIL: Country's Japanese community holds memorial service for Japan's tsunami victims

Record ID: 463739

  • Title: BRAZIL: Country's Japanese community holds memorial service for Japan's tsunami victims
  • Date: 18th March 2011
  • Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (MARCH 17, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF JAPANESE CULTURAL CENTER IN BRAZIL , WHERE A MEMORIAL SERVICE IN HONOR OF JAPAN 'S TSUNAMI VICTIMS WAS HELD CLOSE OF SIGN OUTSIDE CENTER READING: "LET US UNITE TO HELP JAPAN " VARIOUS OF JAPANESE IMMIGRANTS AND DESCENDANTS SIGNING ATTENDANCE LIST IN AUDITORIUM ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF JAPANESE DESCENDANT SIGNING CHECK TO DONATE FOR JAPAN 'S VICTIMS CLOSE OF SIGN ON TABLE READING : "DONATIONS" FLOWERS BEING CARRIED INTO ROOM VARIOUS OF JAPANESE WOMAN, MISA MYAGI, SHOWING PHOTOS AND POST CARDS OF HER JAPANESE RELATIVES (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) JAPANESE WOMAN WHOSE UNCLE IS MISSING, MISA MYAGI, SAYING: "I decided to make a donation. My feelings are here in this service because I knew I had to do something. I don't know if my uncle is alive."
  • Embargoed: 2nd April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil, Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: International Relations,Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA8JRA1JTLTJ6Q5GXMF4U35U6Z0
  • Story Text: Buddhists, Catholics and Evangelicals from Brazil 's Japanese community came together on Thursday (March 17) to pray for Japan a week after a major quake and tsunami devastated the country and a nuclear crisis threatened.
    The official death toll of the Asian country's tragedy has reached 4,314, although the number of fatal victims is likely to grow significantly in the following days with 8,606 still missing.
    The service held at Sao Paulo 's traditionally Japanese district of Liberdade was intended as an memorial mass for the quake's victims. Many mourners were also praying receive news from their relatives who lived in the worst-hit regions.
    Misa Myagi, a Japanese woman whose uncle is missing, said she donated part of her monthly payment.
    "I decided to make a donation. My feelings are here in this service because I knew I had to do something. I don't know if my uncle is alive," she said.
    The mass, conducted by a Catholic priest, a Buddhist monk and an Evangelical pastor, was organized by leaders of Japan 's bulky Brazilian community.
    Japan has been scrambling to cool down a nuclear plant destroyed in the quake using helicopters and fire trucks in a desperate bid to avert an even larger catastrophe.
    Japan 's consul in Sao Paulo, Kazuake Obe, said the solidarity from Brazil 's community would help Japan overcome the crisis.
    "This solidarity, this message of unity in Sao Paulo -- not only from Brazilians, but also from other countries -- gives strength; it gives strength to the people of Japan," he said.
    U.S. consul in Sao Paulo , Thomas Kelly - one of the several foreign diplomatic officials who attended the service - said the world had to unite to help Japan.
    "It was a very moving ceremony and I think it was important for all of us, all representatives of the diplomatic community, to show our solidarity with the Japanese people. The government and societies from all over the world right now are manifesting their concern about this situation," he said.
    Earlier this week three bank accounts were opened by local Japanese leaders to receive donations by immigrants and descendants.
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