Following the devastation caused by the earthquake - and the resulting tsunami - in Japan last week, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has launched a fund-raising appeal via the PlayStation Network.

On a banner on the front page of the PlayStation Network, you'll now be able to make donations in the amounts of €2, €5, €10, €20 from your wallet in the PlayStation Store. With your donation, you’ll get a free Sunrise Blossom Theme for your PlayStation 3. In order to make a donation, click on the ‘Japan Tsunami Appeal’ banner on the homepage of the PlayStation Store or via the latest category.

Contributions will go directly to the British Red Cross, part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – Japan Tsunami Appeal. Every penny will go to the fund, which supports emergency relief and recovery efforts, including deploying personnel, sending relief supplies and providing financial resources.

“Many gamers in particular feel a special bond with Japan, even if they’ve never travelled there personally,” writes Sony Europe's President and CEO Andrew House. “Its ingenuity and innovation have shaped our industry, and its culture and style have spread to communities across the world."

Sony has already donated 300 million yen to the relief fund.