Repurposing SXSW to benefit Japan

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Amid the poster clad booths at Austin's Convention Center was one music producer who dedicated his table to raising awareness about the devastation an earthquake and subsequent tsunami left behind in his home country of Japan.

Horoshi Asada left Japan to promote his band Japan Nite one day before the earthquake hit.

"Being so far away, there is not much we can do," said Asada.

He told KXAN his family is safe, but one of the band members has not yet made contact with their loved ones.  To feel connected, he set up a donation box, played video on his computer of the tsunami and waved the Japanese flag.

"It feels good to get donations but so sorry for the people in the north [of Japan]," Asada explained.

Asada will not be returning to Japan until next month.

Marisa Takahashi doesn't have any immediate plans to visit Japan, but remembers spending time there during a study abroad program.  She stopped by Asada's booth and donated money.

"Anything can help," said Takahashi.

Tomoko Jones shares in that sentiment. Jones moved to Austin from Japan more than a decade ago.  She still has family and friends there that she has not be able to make contact with.

Instead of sitting at home, she hit a party at Kenichi, a sushi bar on Colorado Street in Downtown Austin.

The party, put on by Hurricane Party , a technology company, was dedicated to raising funds for survivors in Japan.

"One family member  I have not been able to contact...I am worried," said Jones.  "This party makes me very happy."

Hurricane Party CEO and founder Rene Panel said he put the party together in less than 24 hours.  Panel told KXAN when news of the devastation exploded on Twitter, he had to do something and didn't feel right partying at the festival.

"It's a party atmosphere," explained Panel, whose company specializes in pinpointing parties via a web application.  "We think there are a lot of smart people here that are socially conscious who want to help our good friends in Japan."

Across town, a group of four technology SXSW attendees are using their smarts to raise money and awareness via social media sites.

Leigh Durst met the three other attendees in a digital lounge and created the online web site SXSWCares.

The site is an online ground zero for everything Japan and even links to Twitter.  The group is asking for donations and has paired with the Red Cross.

So far, they have raised more than $17,000.

"When we started off we didn't have a set goal," said Durst.  "Then we got to $10,000 and then said let's go for $20,000.

Durst even organized at panel discussion at the AT&T Conference Center Sunday afternoon to talk about how the tragedy in Japan was covered using social media tools like Facebook and Twitter.

Although Austin's Japanese community is small, the outpouring of support and care is a big deal.

"The force of the internet and the force of social media all coming together to help one country...it is really neat," Takahashi added.