One of the biggest modern tragedies occurred on March 11, 2011 when a massive earthquake shook northeastern Japan. As if the quake itself wasn't enough, it also caused a massive tsunami that further contributed to the damage the region saw as well as caused a meltdown at a nearby nuclear power plant. To say that the region was devastated would be an understatement, as many lives were lost or disrupted as a result. It was an especially hard time for the children of the area, which is why charities like El Sistema Japan, which aims to help improve the lives of children.
To mark the third anniversary of the tragedy, the organization has partnered with Zapuni, which works with charities and bands to help improve the lives of children through music, Sade and anime studio Dwarf to create a stop-motion video for the band's 2000 single "By Your Side." The tear-jerking clip focuses on a young girl playing music for her stuffed toys on the day of the earthquake. After it hits, the toys attempt to rebuild the life that they had while the young girl is nowhere to be found. While they repair the damage, they are haunted and comforted by the little girl's memory. Animated by Goda Tsuneo, the clip illustrates just how difficult and devastating the events have been for the people of the region and why organizations like El Sistema are needed.
You can check out the beautiful video right here. If you'd like to contribute to El Sistema, you can text "GIVE 14177" to 80088 to donate $10 on U.S. cellphones. You can also donate to El Sistema's Soma Children's Orchestra and Chorus directly by visiting the project's Global Giving page.
