Dave Montoure, owner of the West 5 restaurant and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce President is organizing West Seattle restaurant operators to save Sunday 3/27 as a date for raising funds for Japan relief. He said, "Presently, Feedback Lounge, Shadowland and Mission have agreed to some type of fund-raising program, I need to get out and sign up some more."

Montoure, whose background includes time spent in Japan said, "lived in Iwate prefecture, one of the hardest hit areas, for several years and have many connections in Iwate. Most of my close friends are inland (in Morioka City) and were spared from the tsunami. I am getting daily updates from friends in Iwate, and they are asking for help – something that is very uncharacteristic in the Japanese culture and is telling of how dire the situation is on the ground."

If you are a West Seattle restaurant owner or know one and they would like to be part of this effort contact Dave Montoure at (206) 935-1966.

You can follow this information as more restaurants are added by following West 5 on Twitter or on their Facebook Page.