Great post from day #4 at SxSW event in Austin featuring several famous local players in the mobile biz! http://bit.ly/i02Orj

Huge Congrats to All who carried the flag into Texas this week..

Three hours after getting off the plane, Akihiko Kodama was celebrating the launch of his company’s iphone application in a downtown Austin bar. He wasn’t just celebrating the launch, he was sharing stories and photos from Japan’s earthquake with coworkers. “Even in this condition, we came here, to let the people know about this,” Kodama said.

Kodama is the project manager at domo, a mobile app that’s part of the Tonchidot Corporation, a large Japanese internet company. Domo is one of a few Japan-based startups at SXSW.

Osuke Honda, a partner at DCM, the venture capital firm that has invested in domo, has been in the United States for the last two weeks. He returns to Japan in two days. “It doesn’t seem real,” Honda said. “I have to see it in order for it to sink in.”

Japan’s earthquake struck the same day SXSW began. SXSW is as much a gigantic party as it is a learning and networking event – it’s not known for its philanthropy. Since the earthquake, many of the handful of Japan-based startups attending SXSW banded together to promote the Red Cross relief effort.

“My employees are still over there facing the crisis,” said Ryo Shimizu, president of the Tokyo-based Ubiquitous Entertainment and leader of the relief effort. “They are very scared.”
As of Sunday night the SXSW relief effort had raised $1,986, Shimizu said. “We don’t care how people help, but we hope that they help.”

How you can help: The quickest way you can help? Texting “Red Cross” to 9099 sends $10 to the organization. Via Denver Post.

Related posts:

1. SoftBank Announces Japan Quake Fund
2. DoCoMo Pacific Enables Haiti Donations
3. Honda Internavi Connecting Lifelines
4. Mobile Giving Foundation Update
5. Bangladesh Telcos Raise Funds for Japan

Some sage advise when entering new turf; Stop, Look and Listen.. it’s also good to secure a local guide. Japan is the cradle of mobile civilization – we have been dedicated to this space since 2001 – trust our archives here offer some useful material.

Domestic activities continue to set the pace, and sharp players are looking at global markets. We have hard-earned industry expertise and trusted network of contacts with access to advanced intell. and potential deal flow. Need a lift.. Ok, buckle-up!