Author Topic: OMACHI GAMBATTE (Read 23981 times)

Bonsai Study Group Admin · « **on:** March 15, 2011, 09:45 AM »

From Marco Invernizzi:

Quote

Isao Omachi is the rising star of Bonsai in Japan. He used to live and work in Yamada-cho in the Iwate prefecture with his wife, 2 daughters and his parents. The recent tsunami didn't take their lives but EVERYTHING ELSE they own. They lost EVERYTHING including one of the most amazing bonsai collections in Japan. They need our help. They need it now. Gambatte in japanese means: " good luck!" or " do your best!" The best we can all do is to donate money. 3 bank accounts will be soon open and ready to receive your donations: 1 in Europe, 1 in USA, 1 in Japan and a PAYPAL account. I'm sure that the Omachi family will share whatever we will be able to collect with relatives and friends in need. Help us to help them. Dont' wait, please don't wait! Thank you You can find Omachi on FACEBOOK, if you speak any other languages than English please translate this message and share it with everyone!

Bonsai Study Group Admin · « **Reply #1 on:** March 15, 2011, 09:46 AM »

And a follow-up

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WOW! We got already up to 487 members, even if each one donates $50 we can really make the difference in Isao's future.
I haven't receive new updates on Isao and his family, we just know that the entire family is alive but the entire village simply disappered. We don't know what Omachi has been able to save from his house but think what you would do if you were given only a minute to run away and save your own family....
They are now left with nothing else than their own lifes, the clothing they were wearing......and their friends. You, me and so far 487 people who realize the magnitude of this tragedy.
I just opened a bank account under my name but managed by Diego Fortuna who is not only a good bonsaist but a candidate for the upcoming UBI ( United Bonsaist of Italy) and mostly one fo the top manager of his bank.
By tomorrow I'll have the info for the US bank account.
Please try to understand that it would have take me weeks to get a bank to open a bank account under the cause's name, so I had to open under my name.
If you live in Europe or anywhere near close please send anything you can to the account I will post right after this one. I DO ADVISE EVERYBODY TO COLLECT MONEY FROM YOUR FRIENDS AND WHOEVER WANTS TO SUPPORT THE CAUSE AND MAKE 1 WIRETRANSFER INSTEAD OF MANY WIRETRANSFERS OF SMALLER SUMS.
I will constantly keep you update with the total amount that day by day we will receive. We'll think about a nice way to let the Omachi family know who donated money for their cause.
PLEASE SPREAD OUT THIS MESSAGE TO WHOEVER YOU KNOW WHO MAY BE WILLING TO HELP.
Don't hesitate to get in touch with me at marco@marcoinvernizzi.com.
Let's do it!
GAMBARIMASHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Bonsai Study Group Admin · « **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2011, 09:47 AM »

Bank donation information

Quote

Donate to:
Bank Name:Banca Popolare di Ancona
Branch n.287, Osimo sede
Bank Address:Piazza del Comune 4 60027 Osimo Italy
Acc. holder: Marco Invernizzi
IBAN:IT74B0530837490000000001382
Swift Code: BPAMIT31
Bank Code: BLOPIT22

If you think it would be easier for you to donate to an US bank account please hold on further instructions.

Thank you!

Bonsai Study Group Admin · « **Reply #3 on:** March 15, 2011, 05:13 PM »

Another update from Marco:

Quote

Please send checks to:

Omachi Relief Fund
P.O. Box 22
Yorklyn, DE 19736
USA

The checks are NOT tax deductible!

THESE ARE THE INFO FOR THE US CITIZEN OR ANYONE CLOSE TO USA. I WILL GIVE THE BANK DETAILS TO ANYONE WILL SEND ME A REQUEST.
THIS BANK ACCOUNT IS NOT MANAGED BY MYSELF BUT BY THE KENNETT COLLECTION, whoever has any doubts that we are trying to con you so to make some bucks at your expenses is just a sick bastard.
I'm the only western bonsaist who visited Omachi's garden, not even Suzuki has ever been there. I saw the 4 junipers that Omachi's father worked on for almost 30 years....4 masterpieces.... trees that would have blow your mind away and that his father consider as a retirement funds after a life spent working on bonsai in the shadow of the big bonsai movement in Japan.
Everything they own is gone, with Omachi we have been in Japan, Italy, France, USA and Puerto Rico. He is my brother.

Bonsai Study Group Admin · « **Reply #4 on:** March 15, 2011, 05:28 PM »

Another:

Quote

Paypal info:

Omachifund@aol.com

again not tax deductible.

Bonsai Study Group Admin · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2011, 10:32 AM »

Quote

English: http://www.marcoinvernizzi.com/omachiUS_UK/index.html

Italiano: http://www.marcoinvernizzi.com/omachiit/index.html

Deutsch http://www.marcoinvernizzi.com/omachide/index.html

Español http://www.marcoinvernizzi.com/omachies/index.html

Français: http://www.marcoinvernizzi.com/omachifr/index.html

John Romano · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2011, 07:02 AM »

Come on folks! I know you have a great pot, stand, tool, even tree that you are willing to donate to the auction for Mr. Omachi and his family. When you donate to many organizations for disaster relief, you don't always know where your money is actually going and if it will help anyone. Sometimes good efforts get tied up in bureaucracy and don't achieve what we hoped for. This is a case where your money can go to help one worthy family directly who lost all. The auction site is easy to use. Let's go!

peace in bonsai,
john romano

Marc · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2011, 06:54 AM »

Bill Valavanis presented a short slide presentation for the Omachi Relief Fund at the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York meeting last evening. Bill had slides of the devastation but also of the wonderful Bonsai the Omachi family are known for.
We also learned the fate of two Bonsai. Doug Paul's Juniper that was in the Kokufu ten this year was lost forever to the sea... The good news is that the amazing Hemlock that was shown a year ago is safe in the USA.
We past a big jar after the presentation by Bill and our members stuffed it full of cash and checks. This Friday our Board will discuss what the club Treasury can afford and we will donate that as well. This is one time you can be sure funds you donate get to those they are intended to help. Please consider donating yourself and encouraging your clubs to do the same!

Gambatte!

Marc

Bonsai Study Group Admin · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2011, 09:15 AM »

Marco posted on Wednesday:

Quote

Today I have been able to reach OMACHI. When We spoke he was at the hospital taking care of one of his 2 little daughters who is sick and still very shocked by the recent events. The entire family moved in with the uncle of his father who lives near by. He told me that his town is a ghost town and lots of friends are still missing. Omachi and his family has been informed about what we are doing for them and he asked me to tell you all ....HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATED YOUR GENEROSITY AND PRAYERS AND CANNOT FIND ENOUGH WORDS TO EXPRESS THEIR DEEP GRATITUDE.
They are living now "on hold" waiting for the conditions around them to get better.

Shinji Suzuki who is coordinating the fund raising from Japan told me that he received aprox $1300 in donations from foreigners and that he found lots of japanese willing to help the cause. OMACHI ISAO is well-known and highly respected in Japan not only for his skills but his kindness as well.

Farrand Bloch editor of Bonsai Focus will run an editorial about Omachi on the next issue of his magazine. Support Bonsai Focus means supporting the cause as well. If you know any other magazine/newspaper/website interested to talk about OMACHI GAMBATTE please get in touch with me.

John Romano · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2011, 04:10 PM »

Time is running short for the auction of three antique Japanese scrolls generously donated by Craig Coussins for this Omachi Gambatte auction. There is a little over 6 hours left! Some may not have the opportunity to get to a chance at buying such historical items at a reasonable price and donating to a great cause. Check them out.
On a side note, one of the scrolls has mistakenly been set to end on April 15 but should be ending in 6 hours like the rest. We are rectifying that. So.... all three scroll auctions will be ending at the same time a bit later today. Don't miss out.
thanks and I'll leave the pulpit

John Romano

John Romano · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2011, 06:36 AM »

An anonymous gift of a beautiful scroll has been added to the Omachi Gambatte auction site. Check it out. This particular auction runs for 10 days.

Bonsai Study Group Admin · « **Reply #11 on:** May 05, 2011, 08:59 PM »

LETTER FROM OMACHI:

Quote

At 2.45pm on the 11th of March there was a large earthquake which lasted for a long time. It shook for so long that I was not sure how long it would last for and it was truly frightening.

At that time only my wife and I were at home. Our children were at school and my parents had gone to the neighbouring town. The school is on high ground so I was certain the children would be safe.

Eight years ago, there was an earthquake of similar magnitude which was not followed by a tsunami, so I thought that this time would be the same. Even so I placed all our valuables in a bag, after which my wife and I began to move some trees of customers to higher ground. We managed to move ten trees before I saw the tsunami coming. At that time we were in the middle of moving the Juniper which was awarded the Prime Minister's award at Sakkafu-ten.

We left the bonsai behind and tried to escape to a nearby mountain, however it was too steep and we were washed away with the tsunami wave. Thankfully we were able to cling to a tree and somehow we manage to climb up the mountain to safety. I honestly thought we were going to die. That night we slept in the school, it was very very cold as were wet through and snow was falling.
The next day I went to search for my Bonsai. We had over 300 trees in the garden but they were nowhere to be found. After one week of searching I could find only ten trees.

In the future I plan to start doing Bonsai business near Morioka, however at the moment there is not a thing left in my garden and I must start again from scratch. I plan to prepare little by little by doing as much wiring as I can to earn enough to start again.

The thing which left the biggest impression on me was the power of nature, to be honest it was more than a little scary. It was like something out of a film, my town has been almost entirely washed away.
It is hard to believe.

I have received a lot of help from my bonsai friends and colleagues from all across Japan and thanks to the efforts of Marco, the Kennett Collection and of course, Shinji Suzuki. I have received help from Bonsai enthusiasts from around the world. I am truly, truly grateful from the bottom of my heart. I wish in some small way to repay the kindness of everybody who has helped me. The only thing I know how to do is how to make Bonsai and so one day I
hope that we can all enjoy making Bonsai together.

Isao Omachi

Bonsai Study Group Admin · « **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 2011, 08:02 PM »

Update from Marco Invernizzi:

Quote

I want to inform you all that during the upcoming ASPAC congress that will be held in Takamatsu, Japan at the end of november, the Kennet Collection and I ( and probably lots of other friends from all over the world) will give to Isao Omachi ALL the money raised so far by OMACHI GAMBATTE. We may all get together for nice friendly dinner or have a more official cerimony, it is yet to be decided. Our intention is to give to Isao checks that he will later decide to use as he wish. Needless to say you are still in time in case you want to donate more or start now. :-)

Isao has already the full control of the japanese bank account that was initally opened by Shinji Suzuki. The italian and american bank accounts will remain open so to allow Isao to cash the checks when he will need to do so. We will personally put together a list of all the donators that will be given to the Omachi family and after the show I will travel up north to visit them and the village of Yamado-cho where they used to live till the 11th March.

Isao is keeping himself very busy. The japanese bonsai community has been supporting him by sending his way lots of work and great deals and every time I talked to him he seems to be in a good mood. He is one of the official demostrators of ASPAC 2011.

javaness · « **Reply #13 on:** June 04, 2013, 03:14 AM »

hi there im new on bonsai treees but i need help and i need step by step help cause i think i have 2 or so days till my bonsai dies so please help

Quote from: Bonsai Study Group Admin on March 15, 2011, 09:45 AM

From Marco Invernizzi:

Quote
Isao Omachi is the rising star of Bonsai in Japan. He used to live and work in Yamada-cho in the Iwate prefecture with his wife, 2 daughters and his parents. The recent tsunami didn't take their lives but EVERYTHING ELSE they own. They lost EVERYTHING including one of the most amazing bonsai collections in Japan. They need our help. They need it now. Gambatte in japanese means: " good luck!" or " do your best!" The best we can all do is to donate money. 3 bank accounts will be soon open and ready to receive your donations: 1 in Europe, 1 in USA, 1 in Japan and a PAYPAL account. I'm sure that the Omachi family will share whatever we will be able to collect with relatives and friends in need. Help us to help them. Dont' wait, please don't wait! Thank you You can find Omachi on FACEBOOK, if you speak any other languages than English please translate this message and share it with everyone!

MatsuBonsai · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2013, 08:58 AM »

Welcome.

You may want to start your own thread in an appropriate section. List the species, your location, and any important information that may help with suggestions and feedback. Pictures never hurt either.