April 2, 2011, Saturday - Benefit for Japan at MacPhail Center for Music

Time:  6:00pm

Location: MacPhail Center for Music, 501 South Second Street

Suggested donations are $15 per adult and $10 per student.

"Kizuna" is a Japanese word that means "strong bond," and that's what three Twin Cities-area women are calling the organization they have set up to raise money for earthquake relief in Japan. Their first event is a fundraiser at MacPhail, featuring music and a silent auction.

Performers will include musicians on the MacPhail faculty, including Reiko Imrie, Momoko Tanno, Takako Seimiya and Asako Hirabayashi. Local jazz musicians T. Mychael Rambo, Doug Little, Charanga Tropical, David Hamilton, Timm Holmly, Rob Meany, Kate Lynch and Chris Beaty also will perform.

A silent auction will feature sports memorabilia from new Twins infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka plus Japanese pottery, downtown Minneapolis hotel packages, Twins and Timberwolves tickets, and gift certificates from local Japanese restaurants.

There also will be a video booth where benefit participants can record messages of support to Japanese people that will be put on YouTube or Facebook.

The event is being organized by Yuko Miyamoto, who works as a program manager for the Meet Minneapolis convention and visitors association; Tomoko Fujiwara, who is also from Japan; and Jessica Manivasager, a local lawyer who worked in Japan.

Proceeds will go to the Japan American Society of Minnesota Kizuna Benefit for Pacific Tsunami and Japan Earthquake