VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 various Japanese organizations are coming together to host a fundraiser for Japan, after the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami devastated the country Friday.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to work altogether ... so we have more synergy and everyoneB次元官网网址檚 really on board,B次元官网网址� said Mike Abe, president of the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society. 

The date and venue have yet to be secured, but the theme is set.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l have ongoing Japanese entertainment throughout the day and encourage people to come down, watch and make donations,B次元官网网址� Abe said. 

The Japanese Cultural Society, Japanese Victoria Heritage Language School and the Victoria-Morioka Friendship Society will all take part. 

Bill McCreadie of the Victoria-Morioka Friendship Society said our sister city  has survived.

B次元官网网址淲e had difficulty reaching people until Saturday night,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he earthquake was very severe. There was lots of shaking (but) not a lot of structural damage.B次元官网网址�

McCreadie said heB次元官网网址檚 heard of no fatalities, but aftershocks of magnitudes above 6.0 continue. 

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not being able to get their lives back to normal again,B次元官网网址� McCreadie said. 

Morioka is north of Sendai, the hardest hit area. It is approximately 75 kilometres off the east coast, and not affected by the tsunami, according to McCreadieB次元官网网址檚 contacts.

Other relief efforts and fundraisers are taking shape.

To help those with family and friends in Japan, Shaw Cable is providing Japan TV free of charge to all Victoria customers. Uminara Taiko, a Japanese drumming group, is offering a workshop March 19. (For details, email jacob@uminaritaiko.com.) The Geisha Tapas Bar at 542 Herald St. is holding a fundraiser March 20.

The Canadian military is also poised and ready to help, if requested.

B次元官网网址淐anada has put a range of capabilities at JapanB次元官网网址檚 disposal, including a 17-member Disaster Victim Identification team,B次元官网网址� announced Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, in a press release Sunday. 

B次元官网网址淚n addition, we are offering chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear  technical expertise and equipment, Canadian Forces assets B次元官网网址� including strategic airlift and personnel B次元官网网址� to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts, Government of Canada relief stocks, and emergency medical and engineering capabilities,B次元官网网址� added Cannon. 

By press time, the Japanese government had not accepted CanadaB次元官网网址檚 offer, but military units are engaged in B次元官网网址減rudent planning,B次元官网网址� to be ready if the call comes. 

rholmen@vicnews.com