Special Post: An Unfortunate Tragedy and How You Can Help

Hello, fellow Ibarakians. I am still on holiday and have been thinking of where I would like to go next and my first blog post for 2025. Unfortunately, my first blog post is a sad one.
Last year, I posted a report on the Ushiku Pizza Festa:
https://ibarakieats.com/event-report-pizza-festa

I wrote about a few pizza places I tried at that festival but the one that blew my mind was a pizza from a place in Moriya called Il Nesso. I still remember that pizza and how fresh and delicious it was. It was my favorite pizza in that whole event and I couldn't wait to go to their restaurant and write a post on them.
Due to schedule constraints, I was never able to make it to Il Nesso. I vowed at the beginning of the year that it would be one of my first posts of this year and that I would go sometime in January.
Then, tragedy struck.

During the New Year celebrations, Il Nesso was preparing osechi orders for their customers. That is when the kitchen fire started and spread. Firefighters made it to the scene and no one was injured. Unfortunately, the damage was done. There was extensive damage to the entire restaurant and it looks like it will be a long time till Il Nesso can recover, if at all.

Even though things look dire for Il Nesso, a close friend of the restaurant has started a fundraising page using the platform "Ready For." With contributions from pizza lovers and fellow Ibarakians, you could help this amazing restaurant get back on its feet.
Il Nesso is a staple of the Moriya community and is loved by many pizza admirers around Ibaraki and beyond. I know quite a lot of restaurant owners and food truck owners who have nothing but good things to say about this place. I hope I will be able to visit Il Nesso once they have the resources and time to rebuild.
If you would like to help contribute to the rebuilding efforts of Il Nesso, here is the link to the Ready For website:
https://readyfor.jp/projects/152891/announcements/358431?utm_campaign=announcement&utm_medium=email&utm_source=systemmail&utm_term=detail&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabNRlGLsnMqtZKd2DawM9CYniePJ8fYeirmb_tjP_Xl3ic_HBvAvwrs1I4_aem_9oCTiLPwscwEbV6KwEKhgg

The website is all in Japanese but if you have Google Translate installed on your PC or smartphone, the app will automatically translate the web page. Registration is easy and fast.

Update
I am glad to report that Il Nesso has met its initial fundraising goal by 300%! It looks like the whole city of Moriya has contributed to bringing back Il Nesso and so have people who have yet to visit it. That is great news but the fight to restore this place is still at the beginning stages. Any little bit helps. Let's save Il Nesso!