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Band Gives 70 Million Yen from Manga Art-Inspired Ad Song to Quake Relief
posted on by Joseph First
The Japanese rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN announced on Friday that it donated 69,627,833 yen (about US$877,255) to support the Japanese Red Cross Society's relief efforts for the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake (Higashi Nihon Daishinsai) disaster. BUMP OF CHICKEN contributed all proceeds earned through February 10 from the sale of the band's 20th single "Smile," which shipped in Japan last May.
BUMP OF CHICKEN created the song for a commercial to promote the "Smile" series of drawings from manga creator Takehiko Inoue (Vagabond, Slam Dunk). Inoue began drawing the series using the Zen Brush app to offer his prayers for Japan on the same day that the earthquake struck. He has since drawn over 160 pieces. The North American manga publisher Viz Media released the series on its Viz Manga iOS app and is also donating all proceeds from the first two volumes to the Japanese Red Cross Society.
Source: Oricon
