What you can do

Here's how you can show your thanks and say farewell to Satoshi Kon.

1. Send a sympathy card, post card, letter, or even an email, to Kon's family.

Otakon will provide a temporary address in the US to receive physical mail, and will forward anything we receive there to Madhouse and Kon's family. Also, Madhouse has set up a special email account to receive any such farewell messages.

If you wish, include a brief message about how his works touched you, or a photo of yourself cosplaying as one of his characters.

The plan is to present these messages to the family; it may bring some comfort to know how much Satoshi Kon was appreciated and respected, and how he touched so many lives.

Send your cards and letters here:
Satoshi Kon Project, Otakorp, Inc.
402 King Farm Blvd, #125-113
Rockville, MD 20850

Send your email here:
studio.kon.satoshi (at gmail.com)

2. Donate to an accredited charity that supports the fight against life-threatening cancers.

Do what you can to help battle pancreatic cancer. There are a large number of organizations that exist to fund cancer research. You can find a list of worthy recipients of your donation at the Charity Watch website.

3. Buy stuff.

Specifically, buy DVDs and other merchandise associated with one of Kon's movies or TV shows. Do it for two reasons. First, strong sales may increase the likelihood that Kon's final project will be completed. Second, like most in the animation industry, Satoshi Kon was not a wealthy man, but unlike many, he held some intellectual property that he hoped would continue to provide for his family after his death.

Here are a few starting points. (Just make sure you buy from a reputable retailer -- bootlegs give nothing back to the creators.)
Kon on Google Shopping
Kon on Amazon

4. Share what you love.

This is arguably what fans do best: we fall in love with something and then we want others to love it, too. We build communities on the strength of the shared appreciation of art. So if Tokyo Godfathers restored your faith in humanity just a little bit, or if Paprika made you wonder about what goes on in your co-workers' heads, then by all means, make your friends watch those films and talk about them. Artists live on in what they leave behind.