Yu Tano, a 22-year-old Japanese actress, saw the news of the Kumamoto earthquake and could not stand by.
She donated 3 million yen, about $20,000, through the Japanese Red Cross.
She did not stop there: she coordinated with a friend in Hiroshima to send water, rehydration drinks, diapers, and hygiene products directly to the affected areas.
She said that every update from the disaster area hurt her heart, and that although her contribution seemed small compared with the scale of the tragedy, she wanted to help people return to their normal lives.
The response from part of the internet was a cold shower: “It’s dirty money, but thanks”, someone wrote, and the comment went viral.
Tano did not stay silent; “There is no reason why we should be denied support just because of our profession. A donation is a donation”, she replied, making it clear that the only thing that matters is that the aid reaches those who need it.