In its efforts to aid Japan, VIZ Media, an American manga publishing company, released a digital anthology of illustrations, titled "Art For Hope", at their electronic manga site, VIZ Manga.com, and as a VIZ Manga App, on December 1st, 2011.
"Art For Hope" began as a reconstruction aid project. Manga and comic artists contributed illustrations, from which VIZ Media chose 40 pieces, and compiled them into a digital anthology. The anthology is on sale for 4.99 dollars--the entire proceedings of which will be donated towards Japan's reconstruction--and will only be available until March 31st, 2012.

"Art For Hope" was started by VIZ Media, a manga and comic publisher, with the help of software company Autodesk, after the company looked into ways it could assist in Japan's reconstruction.
Different artists contributed their work, which VIZ Media then edited, published, and marketed. Autodesk contributed the SketchBook sofware needed to create the illustrations, and advertised the product at exhibitions, etc.
All the illustrations are based on the theme of "Hope". In addition to pieces by famous artists--some of whom have won Eisner Awards and Harvey Awards--the anthology also includes outstanding pieces by amateur artists, and represents the growing circle of people interested in aiding Japan in its reconstruction efforts.
The anthology includes a wide range of styles; from realistic pieces to fantasy, comic and manga, etc. Even if it had nothing to do with disaster aid, it would still be an interesting study in the different styles within America's comic and manga culture.

VIZ Media http://www.viz.com/