News
May 21 2026
Japan's Mighty Crown undertakes Hurricane Melissa relief projects in Jamaica
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Masta Simon (left) and Natsumi Nagamura of Link Up JAJA (3rd left), with St Ann 4H representatives, Tedroy Gordon, 4H Parish Manager, St Ann (right) and Tanika Allen, 4H project officer, showing some of the items donated to farmers. - Contributed photo
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Masta Simon with some of the 15 women farmers from Mulgrave in St Elizabeth who benefitted from the Mighty Crown initiative. - Contributed photo
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Masta Simon and Romaine Virgo in Westmoreland. - Contributed photo
Japan’s Mighty Crown sound system has undertaken a relief and recovery project to assist Jamaicans affected by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025.
With the start of the 2026-27 hurricane season just days away, Masta Simon from Mighty Crown has spent several million dollars assisting persons across several parishes who were displaced by the hurricane and are still in need.
Working with a Japanese non-profit organisation based in St Ann, Link Up JAJA, Mighty Crown assisted homeless families in Westmoreland and farmers in St Ann and St Elizabeth. The group also helped repair houses in St Ann, and provided school supplies for children in St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St James, and St Ann.
The world famous Japanese reggae sound, which was on hiatus from sound system activities since 2023, reunited to hold a live charity event to raise money to fund the local relief efforts, raising J$20 million from the effort.
The funds were donated to aid multiple relief initiatives, including a campaign led by Sean Paul in partnership with Food For The Poor; relief efforts organised by Romain Virgo through GoFundMe, as well as Link Up JAJA.
Masta Simon arrived in Jamaica earlier this month to participate in the distribution of relief supplies with Link Up JAJA, donating assistance valued at J$5.8 million.
“It is deeply meaningful for us to be able to deliver the donations entrusted to us by reggae fans, friends, and supporters across Japan to the people and communities that truly need support,” said a statement from Masta Simon.
“We hope to continue strengthening the connection between our two countries through our future activities,” the statement added.
Masta Simon teamed up with Romain Virgo on May 16 in Westmoreland to deliver housing materials to a mother with eight children who became homeless after the hurricane.
Fifteen female farmers in Mulgrave, St Elizabeth, benefitted by way of agricultural support and housing repairs.
The women, part of the Cockpit County of Women (CCOW) group, saw their farms and livelihoods severely affected by the hurricane.
Direct support included hiring of 12 men to clear and restore farmland damaged by the hurricane and providing agricultural supplies including scotch bonnet pepper seeds, fertiliser, farming nets, and pesticides for crop protection.
Housing assistance was also provided for four households in sections of St Ann including Runaway Bay and surrounding communities.
Meanwhile, in collaboration with the St Ann 4H Clubs, Mighty Crown assisted 21 farmers by providing agricultural supplies including 100 chicks and two months’ supply of feed, to poultry farmers. Vegetable farmers collected seeds and fertiliser.
A total of $2.5 million was spent on providing education support for 200 students.
Masta Simon said the assistance came because he saw the need for it, and expressed the hope that the initiative “will help expand support both locally in Jamaica and from Japan for the affected residents who are in desperate need of further support.”
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