YOSHIKI's crystal piano earthquake charity auction: 100 mil Yen, almost 6 days to go

It's not really news - or maybe it is, actually - but what has amused me on and off these last two days since the auction started was to check in on the bidding of YOSHIKI's Crystal Piano - the one he used during the recent US tour, it seems - just for the fun of it, since acquiring it is, let's say, a bit out of the range of my spare cash.

What even I hadn't expected was for the bidding to reach 100.000.000 Yen - $1.207.292 and € 844.808 - with 5 days, 22 hours and 15 minutes yet to go.

Which is almost half of the complete donations of GACKT's "Show your heart" initiative - another effort I loved and love.

Now I wonder what the last bid will be - and who'll make it. Though the latter very likely won't be published.

What I'm glad about is that this, as well as GACKT's effort and that of many more Japanese artists and the people, here and overseas, who followed their call, will make a difference.

Because, while it's all Fukushima now all the time, in overseas media - or so it seems to me, checking online - where a real difference is needed is in the North-East, where the earthquake and tsunami hit worst, and still thousands or maybe tens of thousands of people live in shelters depending on charity.

For that, that they made and make a difference, I really love all the efforts made by artists and everybody else, here and worldwide.

For anyone who wants to check him or herself, go HERE for Japanese, HERE for English and HERE for French versions of the auction page.

March 11th, 2011 - A month later...

March 11th 2011.

It's been a month since then. It seems like a lot more time has passed. It also feels like like a lot less time has passed.

In this past month, most of us, far away from Japan, have carried on with our lives. Japan gets less coverage now than in those first few days after the disaster, and what there is is mostly focused on the Fukushima I nuclear power plant and the troubles there. We hear a lot less about the thousands of people who have died, the thousands still missing, the thousands left homeless, the thousands who lost loved ones, the thousands who despite being alive, have still lost pretty much their whole lives. For them, life will go on because it has to. But things will never go back to the way they were. They can't. And yet, they - and for that matter, all the Japanese people - are taking that in their stride and making the best of it. I can only admire them for that.

Well, I can also try to help as well. We all can. Be it financially or morally, we can support the people in need. Every kind thought and every small gesture counts in helping those people face their future and rebuild their lives and their homes.

Many of your favorite artists have also decided to help, as they can. Be it YOSHIKI's auctioning off his piano (as well as other autographed items, both by him and US celebrities). Be it the STAND UP! JAPAN event held earlier this month and broadcasted online, where several artists played and most of them offered personal items to be auctioned. Be it ToshI's charity concerts across Japan, which also include auctions of X JAPAN members' personal items. Be it SUGIZO's working as a volunteer in the damaged areas (you can read his thoughts and feelings on that on his official blog; keep checking his official Facebook for an English translation, which is likely to be published soon). Be it LUNA SEA's release of a digital song, written after the event, and which can be downloaded from many places around the world, the money raised from that to be donated. Be it "Show your heart", initiated by GACKT, but which by now has gathered the support of MANY artists, and which both raised money and held an auction on March 31st, but is also gathering support messages from people all around the world, as videos and pictures. Perhaps participating in the various auctions is impossible for overseas fans, both for practical and financial reasons, but the last two are far more accessible. There are certainly many more efforts, and you can also try contacting the red cross in your own country and see if they are accepting donations for Japan.

That I am here writing this, that you are here reading this, it's all because we love Japan. So, let's all show our love to Japan, as much as each of us can, now when they need it the most. It will be a long time before things get better in the damaged areas, so they can certainly use any and all support they can get for a long time to come. So we encourage fans of Japanese music, Japanese entertainment and of course, people who want to help in general, to help as they can, too. Be it through donations, buying LUNA SEA's song or taking a few minutes to send a message to "Show your heart," your gesture will surely be appreciated.

Thank you.