Second Harvest Japan

Umamimart has partnered with Second Harvest Japan, a Tokyo-based organization and Japan's first food bank. In the wake of the quake, they hit the ground running, and drove four-ton truckloads of food, water and vital necessities into northern Japan every day. Although they are little-known here in the states, they are well-regarded in Japan, having provided food for soup kitchens, orphanages and the elderly, since 2000.

With over 220,000 people still in emergency housing, Second Harvest Japan is currently in Phase Two of relief efforts in the country's northern coastal region. While Phase One focused on getting food to the hardest-hit communities in the quickest way possible, Phase Two aims to set up soup kitchens and food banks for these residents as they prepare to transition into long-term housing and children gear up for the new school year.

Second Harvest Japan has been working with local businesses to secure warehouse space to store fresh produce, fish, meat and packaged foods that are being driven up from Tokyo in four-ton trucks. Food banks have been set up in Ishinomaki, Fukushima and Kesennuma City.

100% of donations and ticket sales for THE GIFT OF FOOD FOR JAPAN benefit will go to Second Harvest Japan, to efforts geared specifically towards quake and tsunami relief.

Umamimart is a website bringing people together and sharing experience through food. Second Harvest Japan strives to do this on the ground, for victims of the 2011 Sendai Earthquake and Tsunami--from the streets of Los Angeles, let’s give them the GIFT OF FOOD.

Love,

Kayoko + Yoko
Team Umamimart

Kesennuma City located in the extreme northeast of Miyagi Prefecture, March 18, 2011

Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, March 18, 2011

Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, March 18, 2011

For more photos of Second Harvest Japan's activities visit their blog.

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Founded in 2007, Umamimart is a food + drink blog reporting from all over the world, celebrating and sharing knowledge on subjects as wide-ranging as cocktails, baking, Japanese recipes, food packaging design, beer and more.

Umamimart is edited by Kayoko Akabori. The Umamimart Shop launched in November 2010, in collaboration with Trader Yoko, importing fine kitchen and barware from Japan.