Saipan Tribune

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Friday, October 19, 2012

G GAP fundraiser takes in $3.75K for Japan tsunami relief

G GAP raised a total of $3,750 in their third fundraising show on Saipan to help relief efforts in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

The Japanese country music group held a one-night show at Country House Restaurant, which organized the event last Oct. 5.

Audiences listened to the group perform while enjoying a $35 sirloin steak dinner set with a glass of wine for $35 for the first set, and the $25 entrance, inclusive of two drinks, for the second set.

G GAP also went on stage amid heavy rains last Oct. 6 for the 24th Annual Club 200 of the American Red Cross held at the Fiesta Resort & Spa in Garapan.

Kay Irinaka, Country House general administrator, said in an interview yesterday that restaurant president Masanobu Sago will fly next week to Sendai, capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, which was heavily damaged by the March 11, 2011 catastrophe in Japan, to hand-deliver the $3,750 raised during the G GAP show early this month.

“The group is very dedicated to help their countrymen and they really appreciate Saipan for supporting their efforts to assist the Japanese community,” she said.

Irinaka said this is the third time that G GAP held a fundraising event for the same cause, and all members of the group feel at home every time they come back to the island.

“They will never forget the experience they had in their shows on Saipan, including the Club 200 event. They really appreciate that the people of Saipan welcome and accept them,” she added.

Irinaka acknowledged the generosity of the major sponsors for the G GAP show, namely Delta Air Lines which donated airline tickets for the group, Triple J Five Star Wholesale Foods, and Pacific Trading Co.

Formed in 2000, G GAP first performed live for the silver anniversary of Country House in Tokyo, which is a different establishment from the restaurant on Saipan. The group plays English ’80s and ’90s rock music and is composed of Ryuji Hirao, guitar and vocals; Naomi Amemiya, electronic guitar and vocals; Yuichiro Nagasaka, bass and vocals; Keigo Nakajima, drums and vocals; and Yasuharu Muranaka, pedal steel guitar.