Dr. Shigeki Imamoto's Feb. 10 appearance at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC), sponsored by the JCCCNC and Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, brought awareness of issues such as the plight of the Fukushima animals to the general public. Imamoto, on his first visit in the United States, made stops in New Orleans, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Lexington KY., funding his campaign out of his own pocket.

Approximately two dozen people attended Imamoto's hourlong presentation, which was punctuated with graphic photos and videos of dead and dying dogs, cats, chickens, pigs, and cows.

"People have to think more about the importance of life," Imamoto said, with the help of translators Alice Kanno and Kenzo Tsukano. "Is it legitimate for humans to kill animals within the 20-kilometer zone?"

Imamoto is the owner and operator of the Shinjo Animal Hospital in Nara Prefecture, about six hours from Fukushima Prefecture. With a government permit, Imamoto has returned every month to Fukushima, chronicling his findings, visiting the farms and the animals, and making hygiene inspections.

In order "to save the pets, you have to save the owners."

In closing, Imamoto asked the audience to help spread awareness about the animals in Fukushima. He said he personally wasn't accepting any donations. But he serves as chief medical advisor for the Japanese organization, Farm of Hope, which supports Fukushima farmers. Farm of Hope is accepting donations and can be reached at http://fukushima-farmsanctuary.blogzine.jp/.

In addition, the Hachiko Coalition, a U.S. organization which is fighting to save the animals in Fukushima, assisted in Dr. Imamoto's San Francisco appearance. The coalition is also accepting donations at http://www.facebook.com/hachiko.coalition.

Alma Cruz, Vice President of the Hachiko Coalition, spoke about that group's efforts to rescue the animals in the Fukushima zone. The coalition, formed soon after the 3/11 disaster, works with rescue groups like the Hoshi family, which has risked arrest and fines to enter the "no-go" zone to take pets and animals out. She said the coalition is currently raising funds and turns over the donations for veterinary care of the animals in shelters.
"We have to be a voice for the animals," Cruz said.

USEFUL LINKS
-For more information about Dr. Imamoto and his work:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=263557997022259
-For more information about the Hachiko Coalition, a U.S. organization which is fighting to save the animals in Fukushima: http://www.facebook.com/hachiko.coalition
-For more information about Dr. Imamoto and the Farm of Hope:
http://fukushima-farmsanctuary.blogzine.jp/
-For information about the Hoshi family, which is defying the Japanese government's orders and rescuing the animals: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.259010194117472.70722.21681133833735...
-Other You Tube presentation by Dr. Imamoto:
http://bit.ly/xoDDpa.
-Learn more about the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund: www.kokoro4japan.org
-Learn more about the JCCCNC: www.jcccnc.org

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcC0nTXAxHM&list=UUR-aUyGwQEw-vbKirDGWtiA&index=2&feature=plcp

Part3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agh91xZDdkQ&list=UUR-aUyGwQEw-vbKirDGWtiA&index=1&feature=plcp