In the days and weeks following Hurricane Katrina, the Japanese government donated over a $1 million worth of money and materials for hurricane relief and another $200,000 to the Red Cross. The Japanese people were no slouches either. Takashi Endo, a Japanese businessman, donated $1 million of his own cash. Now it is time for a little pay back.

To help out, you can donate $10 to the Red Cross by texting “REDCROSS” to 90999 or donate online here. What if you don’t feel like a text message donation is proactive enough? Or perhaps you feel like helping your city and Japan at the same time? Then I suggest you take advantage of Sushi for Sendai.

The brainchild of a couple of local social media masters (full disclosure: including my sister), Sushi for Sendai is a local “dine out” campaign. Just dine out at participating sushi restaurants on Wednesdays in April and proceeds will go to Sushi for Sendai’s partner, the Red Cross, for tsunami relief. Pretty simple deal really. You do something you like to do anyway and the Red Cross can help those in need. Just be sure to save your April sushi dining for Wednesdays.

The current list of participating restaurants is:

Aloha Sushi (Sun Ray Grill)
Kyoto
Rock-N-Sake
Wasabi Frenchmen
Wasabi Lakeview
Daiwa
Yokohama

Two other restaurants have been so inspired by Sushi for Sendai, that they’ve taken on offering sushi small plates during April. They are:
Eiffel Society
Three Muses

Be sure to check the Sushi for Sendai Facebook page for the most up-to-date list and call your favorite restaurant if it isn’t participating. The Japanese have done so much for the city of New Orleans in our time of need, I think it is high time we return the favor. Now get out there and eat some sushi. Just make sure it is on Wednesday!