Every dollar spent at Nakato Japanese Steakhouse on Monday, March 28, 4:30 – 10 p.m. will go to directly to Springfield’s Sister City of Isesaki, Japan to aid Japan in its recovery from the earthquake and tsunami.

“Unlike other fundraisers in the area in which a certain percentage of sales goes to a particular cause, 100% of every single dollar brought in, without subtracting the cost of food, is going to our friends in Isesaki to be used for recovery efforts as its local government sees fit,” said Sister Cities Coordinator Cindy Jobe. “We’re hoping for more than $15,000 to be raised during the night, and the simple thing about it is we just need our Springfield community to go out to dinner on Monday.”

Nakato Japanese Steakhouse has been a long-time supporter of SSCA, helping by hosting dining experiences for visiting delegations from both of Springfield’s sister cities. The restaurant is located in the Battlefield Mall parking lot, near the intersection of Glenstone Avenue and Sunset Street at 2615 S. Glenstone Ave. Reservations are recommended by calling 417-881-7171, but walk-ins are accepted.

Isesaki residents raised and donated nearly $17,000 and sent nine Master Gardeners to Springfield to help rebuild the Japanese Stroll Garden at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park following the 2007 ice storm. They also sent funds to Springfield following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina, entrusting their American counterparts to send the money to where they thought it would do the most good in each case.