808 reasons why we should help Japan

Monday, March 14th, 2011 | 7:25 pm and filed in Friends.

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The news from Japan is terribly sad and this affects me deeply on a personal level. I have family there. Fortunately, they are safe but still feel anxious over the events of the past few days. I also have many friends there, and if you’re involved in the world of music, believe it or not, you too, have many friends in Japan!

These are your friends who work at Akai who made your MPC; the friends at Korg who made your Kaoss Pad; and the friends at Tascam who assembled your old Portastudio - to name a few. These are also the friends at Technics, who built your 1200s; friends at Yamaha who made your old DX-7; the friends at Sony who developed your CD Player; and these are the friends at Roland who invented the TR-808 that was sampled so you could download a fat bass drum for your new beat.

The devastation of the 2011 Tohoku – Pacific Ocean Earthquake and subsequent Tsunami has put a tremendous toll on our friends, their families, and neighbors, and right now they need a favor. One way to help is through the Red Cross: People in the United States can text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Also, people in Canada can text “REDCROSS” to 30333 to make a donation.

I can also vouch for the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund set up by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California where funds are not reduced for administrative costs: JCCCNC.org

It’s ok if you can’t help with a donation. Next time you hear that 808 bass drop, just think of your friends in Japan, and hope for better days ahead.

2 Responses to “808 reasons why we should help Japan”

  1. Simon C. H. Ho Says:

    I am from Hong Kong and has been to Japan once in Sep 2009. I love this country and am saddened by this calamity that caused such a huge damage and loss of lives. I pray for the people of Japan and hope that they could overcome this very soon, especially the nuclear plant crisis.

  2. theshaggyfreak Says:

    I have a number of good friends there and I’m thankful they’re all okay. While I have donated money to the American Red Cross, I’m going to be participating in some other fund raisers. Tomorrow I’ll be working on a chip tune for this : http://truechiptilldeath.com/japan/