To some foreigners who stayed, those who left Tokyo after the March 11 earthquake committed a cardinal sin, worthy of the disparaging epithet "flyjin."
To some foreigners who stayed, those who left Tokyo after the March 11 earthquake committed a cardinal sin, worthy of the disparaging epithet "flyjin."
Yet when couple Ai Kurahashi and Sebastian Mayer left for Phuket, Thailand, and their friend Naoko Maeda headed to Osaka, such criticisms were the last thing on their minds. Kurahashi and Maeda had spent several days translating Japanese news for English speakers in Tokyo, while Mayer had been planning to sell artworks to raise money for the cause.
What they then did from their new locations challenged the boundaries between "stayers" and "leavers" that others have stressed as so important: they started calling friends all over the world to try to help the victims of the disaster.
There was an overwhelming response. Within a week, an international group of artists and designers had come together to create an online store selling merchandise decorated with unique designs to raise money for the relief effort.
The site, called "Tomodachi Calling," uses the Japanese word for "friend" to emphasize the close personal relationships that helped make it possible.
"Basically, everyone's a tomodachi of ours, or a tomodachi of a tomodachi," Kurahashi explains.
"Some of the contributors had exhibitions or concerts in Japan, and they learned to love Japanese people--now they want to give something back," says Mayer.
In the first week, the trio were inundated with offers of help.
"Everyone responded really quickly, saying, 'I can make the web shop,' 'I can do the sales,' or 'I can design the logo,'" says Kurahashi.
Eight days later, thanks to a hard-working team including web designers in Berlin, a translator in Zurich, a photographer in Phuket and supporters in Tokyo and Osaka, the website was online.
"Every time we wanted to change something, it was done almost before we said so," Kurahashi says. "Our web designer was working like a ninja!"
While the website was being built, the trio asked artists, graphic designers and musicians they knew to contribute designs to be printed on high-quality T-shirts, eco-friendly bags, buttons, mugs and even babysuits. The artwork submitted included photographs, drawings, abstract graphics and handwritten poems.
Anxious to avoid putting stress on Japan's infrastructure, the group decided to use U.S.-based company Cafe Press to print and ship the merchandise.
Now, with over 50 original designs on the site and more than 100 in the pipeline, the project has surpassed all expectations.
Having spent his early career as a photographer and musician in Berlin and other parts of Europe, Mayer's contacts were indispensable to the team. Friends from various countries helped to enlist acclaimed artists from countries such as Argentina, Sweden and the United States.
Contributors included the legendary comic artist Robert Crumb; the art-pop band Blonde Redhead, whose lead singer, Kazu Makino, is Japanese; and Michel Gondry, the director of the 2004 film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" who spent time in Japan working on the Japanese-language movie "Tokyo!"
Swedish artist Maya Thunberg says her love for Japan and a desire to help motivated her to submit a drawing.
"A beautiful thing about the Japanese mentality is the always knowing that nothing is everlasting," she says. "I'm so thankful for everything you made me see, you opened up my eyes. So, now that terrible things are happening, I hope my print can bring positive energy to people who have to witness this horror and sadness."
Kurahashi notes that Japanese society and its design industry have sometimes been accused of suffering from "Galapagos" syndrome, meaning that they have developed in isolation from the rest of the world.
"But this could be a turning point for the country, because the nuclear problem is not just about Japan. We're not isolated any more," she says.
Mayer says: "For the first time in years, Japan has the urge to cooperate with a lot of different countries. Despite the terrible circumstances, it's probably a good step for the country."
For the team at Tomodachi Calling, at least, the Internet has made geographical boundaries irrelevant. "We didn't care where people were," says Mayer. "We just cared if they were online or not."
Tomodachi Calling has so far raised $3,000 for the Japanese Red Cross.
Visit www.tomodachicalling.org to browse the products, donate, and find out more.