Three club members, Yoshi Hori, Kohei Sasaki and Chris Kuo, helped operate a desk at the University Union building yesterday, selling T-shirts, and collecting donations.
Half the funds raised will be given to the Red Cross Christchurch appeal and half will go to the Japanese Red Cross, to help survivors after the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Mr Kuo said the shared experiences of earthquakes and shared efforts to help in both countries were helping improve mutual understanding between the two nations.
Japan Club president Yoshitaka Yamaji said the club had about 70 members.
He was pleased with the positive response on campus to the club's efforts, including gathering short messages from concerned people to be sent to earthquake survivors.
About 200 messages had already been received and would be sent electronically, Mr Yamaji said.
The club, and many other Otago University Students Association international student clubs, will take part in a "bake sale" and mini cultural festival outside the University Union building between noon and 3.30pm today.
Funds raised from that event will also go to the two earthquake appeals.
