Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2012

Disaster memorials can be a touchy business. Creating a lasting and moving monument to satisfy a large and engaged community can be almost impossible. One group has hit upon a lovely and eco-friendly idea for a 3/11 memorial, though, which is sure to please. They call it the Sakura Line 311. Organizers plan to plant a line of cherry trees where last year’s tsunami reached furthest inland. They were motivated by anger over discovering that such large tsunamis had happened in the area in the past. By marking the reach of the March 11 tsunami in a very visual way, they hope not only to memorialize the dead but to provide a reminder to future generations not to be complacent about the destructive power of the sea. Planting has already begun, but volunteers are still needed, as are donations of cherry saplings and funds. Jessica Ocheltree

See http://sakura-line311.org for more information (Japanese only). Account information for donations is given at the bottom of the page.

no dirty stuff on the beach

Once again Michel and Alana Bonzi, owners of Shonan-based French language and cooking school Soleil Provence, are calling all nature lovers and eco-friends for this year’s first Fujisawa Beach Cleaning Project effort. The event will be held on International Coastal Cleanup Day at Kugenuma Beach near Enoshima and Chigasaki. The biannual campaign is also an excellent way to meet new friends and network. The last cleanup was attended by 220 people, both Japanese and foreigners, and collected a new local record of 165 bags of beach litter and marine debris, amounting to about 198kg of trash. Don’t forget to bring gloves, as you will likely find glass shards and other things you don’t want to handle with your bare hands.
Data on all the gomi collected will be sent to the Japan Environmental Action Network, which is taking part in a global research project about oceans and trash. Gianni Simone

Apr. 15, 10:30am, free. Kugenuma Beach, Fujisawa. Nearest stn: Kugenuma-Kaigan. Email: info@soleilprovence.com. www.soleilprovence.com

take a break… for Tohoku

The various seasonal and regional flavors of Kit Kats available in Japan have become legend. But did you know you can find varieties in 70 countries? Parent company Nestle is now using customers’ fascination with flavored Kit Kats for a good cause. They’ve begun selling a world variety pack of minis, with three flavors from Japan and five each from England and Australia. ¥20 from each purchase will be donated towards the reconstruction of the Sanriku Railway in Tohoku. In addition, the new train cars will be decorated with messages of support from Kit Kat fans around the world, collected through a Facebook page. Jessica Ocheltree

¥525 per bag, available only in Japan. See www.nestle.jp/brand/kit/kitzutto_jp for more information.