The magnitude of the tragedy that shook Japan
again has mobilized the entertainment giants. Following the devastating 7.1
magnitude earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28, The
Pokémon Company announced a massive donation of 100 million
yen to directly support the victims and fund rescue and reconstruction
work in the areas hardest hit by the earthquake.
The violent earthquake reached the maximum
intensity of 7 on the Japanese seismic scale, leaving dozens dead, hundreds
injured, destruction of basic infrastructure and more than ten thousand people
evacuated to temporary shelters. Faced with this bleak outlook, the company
behind the successful franchise issued an official statement
expressing its deepest condolences to all those affected. The funds will be
delivered directly to the authorities of Kumamoto prefecture and the Japanese
Red Cross, in addition to being channeled through various humanitarian aid
organizations already operating on the ground hit by the constant aftershocks.
This is not the first time that the brand has
demonstrated a strong social commitment to the inhabitants of the region at
critical times. Following the tragic earthquakes in Kumamoto in 2016, the
company implemented the POKÉMON with YOU charity program, distributing
special Pikachu supplies and items to children in local communities as part of
a long-term strategy to bring joy to young people. This constant philanthropic
work through his foundation seeks to give back a little of the immense
affection that the community has given to pocket monsters for
three decades.
Knowing that large entertainment companies in
Japan usually react immediately to this type of natural catastrophe.
