Followers

2011/03/13

Update On Us and Our Area


First of all, thank you very much for your kinds words and concern about us. I really appreciate it. Secondly I am sorry for not replying...

We are doing fine. None of our family members are dead or injured. Due to the unprecedented shaking that took place on March 11, we had a minor damage at home (as you can see photo above), located in Utsunomiya city, Tochigi Prefecture. But it's nothing comparative to what happened to the coastal area of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures.




As it is constantly reported on all sorts of media, one of our main concerns is the radioactivity leakage from the Fukushima #1 nuclear power plant. Fortunately we are not within 20 km of the power station that is in critical situation of cooling down the nuclear reactor. It is fortunate that Onagawa nuclear power plant near Sendai city is still under control! It's so nearby the epicenter.

Since where we live is so far away from the Pacific coast, our lives are OK. As you can see in the photo shown above, we have had very minor damage caused by the quake. In some area of our city, we have problems with electricity and telephone services. The majority of JR trains lines are still out of service. Gasoline supply has been out of service since yesterday and this is probably the biggest issue for most of the inhabitants in our prefecture since driving a car is indispensable. More and more shelves at supermarkets are getting bare, as well.
Other than that, our area is so quiet. I haven't heard any ambulance sirens since yesterday. The people here appear to be saving gasoline. The streets are not so busy. Rather, it's so quiet, I have to say. We posted photos of our neighborhood on another one of our blogs, Tochigi Daily Photo, here.

Here is the funny part. Did I tell you that we don't have a TV and radio at home? We totally rely on the internet for getting updates and we have been listening to the BBC live video, as well as reloading Japanese newspaper websites. Never before have I been exposed to such a massive flow of British accents. By the time everything's back to normal, I will be so familiar with many varieties of British accents!

What we are really worrying about is the aftershocks that are continuously happening. I feel like living in an airplane cabin or on a train all day...

Fig. 1 Everything started at the time when the red bar was recorded. Gray bars indicate quakes that happened before the major disaster. The Y axis denotes the numbers of aftershocks per hour and the X axis indicates time.

This is all written in Japanese, but just take a look at the times that the aftershocks happen. You can see how often it's been happening. It IS gradually getting less and less as the time goes by. Which is good news!

However....

Fig 2. Average magnitude of aftershocks. The red bar reached at magnitude 9 that is the biggest number ever recorded in Japan. Y axis indicates average magnitude of aftershocks per hour. Gray bars denote quakes that happened before the major disaster.

The average magnitude, unfortunately, remains high... The data does not make me happy...


This is a Black and White Weekend and Weekend Reflections #77,

         

32 comments:

  1. What a relief that you're doing OK, but looks like you've still got quite a bit of damage at your home. My relatives in Sendai did not fare as well and we're very concerned.
    Kay (from Musings)

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  2. I'm so glad you're safe, in spite of the damage you show on your other blog.
    We get so much confused reporting from the media. Surely there's enough true drama to report without inventing or twisting it. Clear information is so hard to find. Thank you for taking the time to post like this.

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  3. Very glad to know you are doing well.
    We get the most garbled reports you can imagine - everything from meltdown in one reactor to all six!
    If there are leaks, I hope the wind is offshore.

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  4. ご無事でなによりです。
    テレビでずっと3日以内に70%の確率で大きい地震がくるといっています。
    まだまだ、安心できませんね。

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  5. we are so happy for your safety and feel such heartbreak for the affected people and places north of you.

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  6. Praying for all of you.
    Take care.

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  7. good to hear from you and thank you for this excellent and differentiated informations.

    I hope for all of us that is not the wind turns.

    take care.

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  8. I am so glad to read in these continuing updates that the leakage and aftershocks still seem to be somewhat contained. Prayers continue.

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  9. Yoshi,
    I'm so relieved to hear your safety.
    The disasters could have happened anywhere in Japan. When I watched black Tsunami going over 10m high breakwaters easily holding fishing boats, I couldn't believe my eyes. Too many unexpected have happened one after another.

    I'm glad you posted this and Tochigi Daily Photo. You are the first person, who doesn't have a TV and radio, I have ever heard.
    I admire your strong spirit! Take care,Yoshi.

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  10. thank you for the update Yoshi. you have been on my mind very much. I'm hoping that things settle down very soon for all of Japan. take care and be safe Yoshi!

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  11. it's great to know that you and your family are safe. my prayers and sympathy to those who lost loved ones. i pray that the people of Japan will remain strong. stay safe!

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  12. Yoshi, again, I am so grateful that you and your beloveds are safe. My heart is sending prayers for your nation every time I think of the suffering.

    Blessings to you my friend.

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  13. Thanks for the update! I was so sad to here about the terrible earthquake and all that followed. I've been in a few big earthquakes in California but none were this big. I'm so glad that you are okay! My prayers are for your country.

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  14. glad to hear you are safe and sound there! hope your family and friends are fine too. [ the news really worrying us here ]. take care.

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  15. Thank you for this very interesting entry of yours.
    All the very best for you and yours.

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  16. you are all in our thoughts and prayers, be safe

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  17. When I heard the news I immediately thought of you. The last time I was here was when I commented in your post with Saigo. Yesterday I didn't open nor blog hopped I spend Saturday and Sunday with family. Now I am so glad to hear that you and your family are fine. I pray for you and your family safety as well as your friends and relatives. Be safe and God bless!!

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  18. Be well... thinking of Japan in this terrible time.

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  19. Hang in there Yoshi. We are thinking about you, and keeping up with the news. Take care.

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  20. Yoshi - so happy to read that you and your family are safe. We have been listening to the news non-stop about this terrible event.

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  21. I had to give an impromptu lesson on Japan geography on Friday to concerned officemates. And to show where most of my Japan buddies, who luckily safe and sound are at.

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  22. Great to know you're OK. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  23. So glad that you and yours are safe!

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  24. I'm so glad to know that you and your family are okay. I froze when I saw the footage of the earthquake and tsunami on tv. God bless Japan

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  25. Glad to hear your area escaped the worst of the quake. My heart is heavy for all those in the disaster areas.

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  26. thinking of you today my friend.

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  27. Thinking of you all the time.
    We have much to learn from japanese people(I did not know HOW much before!

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  28. The news is devastating but those like the 4 month-old baby or the 60-year-old man being found are such that keeps my hopes up. I still cry seeing photos and hearing from friends about the tremors that still happen...i do hope the rocks down unser settle themselves soon...Also the discipline shown by everyone...still in line when going at groceries show the kindness that I unfortunately haven't seen in my country...

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  29. I hope things are still going well with you and your family. Broken glass can be replaced, but not people and family. Wishing you well!

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  30. Yoshi, good to hear you're okay, man. prayers for Japan.

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  31. j'espere que tu vas bien et tout cela fait tres peur.

    Publicity ;o) Every Friday (and the Weekend), The Challenge "Walk In The Street Photography"

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  32. Thank goodness you and family are safe. I agree with all the great comments here-- those of us who love and know Japan are beyond heartsick.
    Even those who do not know much about Japan - they too are very very sad.
    Countless millions are praying for your people and country.

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