The morning of the Annual Membership Celebration came the shocking news — Japan had been hit by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded on Friday. The magnitude-8.9 quake caused a deadly tsunami that swept across parts of northern Japan. Thousand of people were missing, phones and trains disrupted. Information about the disaster was coming by news, emails, and social media channels in bits and pieces.

That night SSCA president John Price started off the annual event with a time for silence and prayers for Japan. SSCA board member Mika Logan and another private Isesaki citizen were interviewed by KY3. Here’s their video story: