Philadelphia has a long affiliation with Japan and Japanese culture. The first Japanese diplomatic mission to the West visited Philadelphia in 1872, stopping at Independence Hall. A trade mission, two Japanese structures and popular exhibitions were in attendance at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in West Fairmount Park. Japanese students have attended local schools and universities from these earliest days. And in 1953, the Japanese Government built Shofuso Japanese House as a goodwill gift to the American people and later donated it to the people of Philadelphia. The history of cultural exchange between Philadelphia and Japan for business and friendship continues to this day.
Japanese Americans and Japanese here have strong ties to both Japan and Philadelphia, and are watching news from Japan intently. As representatives of Japanese cultural and heritage organizations, J7 calls on the people of Philadelphia to contribute to disaster relief and to remember the struggles of the Japanese people in the days, weeks and months to come.
Checks can be made to FJHG and mailed to: Earthquake Relief c/o Friends of the Japanese House and Garden, 5070 Parkside Ave. #2104, Philadelphia, PA 19131. Proceeds collected by the J7 will be forwarded to the relief organizations selected by the Japanese Government.
The J7 is a collaboration among Japanese cultural and heritage organizations in the Philadelphia region to share resources and knowledge for mutual support. Members include: Japanese American Citizens League, Japanese Language School of Philadelphia, Japanese Association of Greater Philadelphia, Friends of the Japanese House and Garden, Ikebana International, Japanese Christian Church of Philadelphia, and Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia.
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