29 March 2011
Team as one
After the earthquake, Japan Football Association and J. League decided to hold the charity match which called "Gambaro, Japan" charity match Samurai Blue vs. J. League TEAM AS ONE. Samurai Blue is Japanese national football team. J. League TEAM AS ONE is all star team from J. League clubs.
J. League is Japanese football league. There are 2 divisions and there are 38 football teams (18 teams in J. League division 1, and 20 teams in J. League division 2). They decided to hold the charity match in Osaka because it's tough to hold match in Tokyo due to electricity shortage.
Today was the day of the charity match. Of course, I watched the match on TV. I heard the match broadcasted around the world in live.
I felt the match was really nice. There was one very famous Japanese football player on the pitch today. His name is Kazuyoshi Miura (aka King Kazu). He's 44 years old and he is still playing at Yokohama FC (J. League division 2). He is the first Asian football player who played at Serie A in 1994.
His dance after his goal called "Kazu dance(カズダンス)" is really famous, and I believe many people who were watching the match wanted to see his dance. Well, we could see his dance!! You can watch his goal at the charity match from the video on top. (TV station might delete the video on YouTube.)
Finally, the Samurai Blue (Japan National Team) won the game, of course. But TEAM AS ONE (all star team from J. League clubs) played really nice. And luckily King Kazu did his wonderful job! I believe the charity match encourage people in Tohoku area.
Thank you.
25 March 2011
AC-gate?
About 3 days after the earthquake, TV stations were broadcasting some special programmes without advertisements that about the great earthquake and tsunami. Now they are broadcasting usual programmes, but most news are about the great earthquake, great tsunami and accidents of nuclear power plant. Last week, they were broadcasting some advertisements from AC Japan. The advertisement became popular because TV stations broadcast them again and again.
What's AC Japan?
AC Japan is private, non-profit organization and its formal name is Japan Advertising Council. It's like Ad Council in the United States. AC Japan born in 1971, as Kansai Advertising Council in Osaka. The organization is supported by 1208 companies (as of May, 2010). They are providing some advertisement for TV stations, radio stations, newspaper publishers, theatres and more. They are endeavor to improve our lives by providing commercials.
Criticism
After the great earthquake, TV stations were not broadcasting advertisement to broadcast the latest news as soon as possible. But about 3 days after the earthquake, they started to broadcast advertisements. Most of them were provided by AC Japan. This is because most of companies ordered not to broadcast their advertisements for their company image. Because of that, only a few advertisements were broadcasting again and again. It's a little pesky. I think, many people think so.
AC Japan was not ready to provide some advertisement about the earthquake at that time, of course. Then most of advertisements were not suitable to broadcast such as campaign to encourage to checkup for breast cancer and cervical cancer.
Well, most unpopular advertisement was about the greeting. The video on top is the one. I heard TV stations received a lot of criticisms that about these advertisements. Then AC Japan apologised about their un-suitable advertisements. I don't think they are doing wrong thing.
Changes
Anyway, they apologised. Also they started to provide new version of advertisements to encourage Japanese people. Also, they mute the sound logo. Basically, they are providing really nice advertisement to improve our lives.
Now, TV stations are back to broadcast usual programmes and usual advertisements. But sometimes these AC Japan's commercial appears. I felt TV stations broadcast too much AC Japan's advertisements, but it's not so awful advertisements. So I hope they will provide these kind of advertisements.
Thank you.
21 March 2011
After the earthquake
Before I start my today's article, I would like to say sorry to all of victims of this great earthquake and tsunami. And I would like to say thank you to all of the people who are supporting us, praying for us.
About a week ago, the great earthquake hit north-eastern Japan, and the great tsunami followed and killed more than 8,000 and more than 10,000 people are still missing. I believe these missing people will be rescued as soon as possible.
Earthquake and evacuation at the college
Today, I would like to write about my story about these days. I was in the college which is in western Tokyo when the great earthquake hit. I was in the laboratory on the 4-storied building's top story. I was there to edit my slides that I was planning to send to my professor on that day. At 14:46, the strongest earthquake ever in Japan hit north-eastern Japan. I've never had such a strong earthquake.
After the earthquake, some aftershocks followed soon. Mostly these were strong quakes, and I felt it once in every 5 minutes. I took a video when aftershocks hit.
I took this video at 15:17 on 11th March.
We needed to evacuate from the building because to check the safety. While we were outside of the building, some aftershocks continued. I didn't know that the great tsunami were striking the coast area because I couldn't get enough information at that time. I heard the focal was near Sendai, Miyagi prefecture. Then I remembered my trip plan. I was planning a short trip with my family from Sunday (13th March). And that destination was Sendai. I don't want to imagine if my trip plan was start from 11th March...
Anyway, the college staff started to check the attendance. We were in spring holidays at that time, then there were not so many students. After they checked attendance, they ordered to go back home, or stay in front of the office. At that time, all of trains stopped then some students couldn't go home at time. Fortunately, I came to the college by bicycle, then I could go home smoothly. But I heard some students stayed at the college and came home on 12th March. Most of railway companies restarted their services at midnight, but JR couldn't. JR started their services in the morning of 12th March. But these were the story in Tokyo. In Tohoku region, most of trains were still stopping.
Damages
Fortunately, damage of the earthquake at laboratory was limited.
According to some news sources, 8,450 people killed and 12,909 people are still missing. (as of 21st March) Despite such situation, luckily I'm doing fine and my friends, family are doing fine too. Also there's no damage in my house. Only some books fell out from desk, but I shelved them back.
Problems at power plants
The great tsunami made serious problem at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. There are 3 nuclear power plants which are Onagawa, Fukushima Dai-ichi and Fukushima Dai-ni. Fukushima Dai-ichi is one of the oldest nuclear power plant in Japan. There are 6 reactors in the site, and No.1, No.2 and No.3 were working when the great earthquake hit, I heard. Also, some of thermal power plants damaged.
There are 55 nuclear power plants in Japan. Can you believe that? Many nuclear power plants are located in such an earthquake country. And about 30% of electric power came from nuclear energy. That why we could use electricity in low price. That why they could encourage us to buy electric vehicles. That why they could encourage us to change to gas-free houses.
Most of nuclear power plants are located far away from mega-cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. In fact, Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant is about 220 kilo-metre away from Tokyo. The plant's first reactor is made in 1971 so it's more than 40-year-old! This is one of the oldest nuclear reactor in Japan, and I heard it's already over-aged. The reactor could stand while magnitude-9.0 earthquake, but the great tsunami disabled the cooling system. (Reportedly, reactors stopped automatically when the earthquake hit. The cooling systems started but stopped when the tsunami hit the plants.) So, we are facing serious problem at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. I don't know exactly what's happened and what's happening at reactors now. According to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, hydrogen exposition occurred at reactor No.1 and No.3. And reactor No.4 got fired, some radioactive products released to the air. Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency raised the severity rating to "level 5". I believe brave workers at the plant will fix the plant as soon as possible.
Energy shortage
Due to these problems we are facing energy shortage. TEPCO, the energy company and owner of Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, announced "rotation power-cut" in their service area. TEPCO is the biggest energy company and they are providing electricity to Kanto region.
Due to rotation power-cut, traffic signals were disabled.
We have maximum 6 hours of power cut in each day. But mostly 3 hours of power cut in each day. The rotation power cut from 14th March, but there were no power cut on Saturday and Sunday because use of energy decreased.
In such situation, some internet users started unique campaign to encourage energy saving. The operation Yashima (ヤシマ作戦), the name came from animation "Neon Genesis Evangelion(新世紀エヴァンゲリオン)". In this operation, we try not to use too much electricity. It seems like successful, I think. But some of restaurants and shops are closed due to energy shortage. And most of railway companies in Kanto region decided to decrease the number of trains.
Lacking many things at shops...
The great earthquake didn't affect damage to Tokyo directly. But now we are lacking many things such as rice, bread, gasoline, paper tissue, toilet papers and more. There are enough supplies but when I go to convenience stores or supermarket stores many things gone like photo on below.
At the convenience store, there were some lacks with nothing.
Well, well, well... Many people are buying too much. So it's tough to buy foods paper tissue and toilet papers in many shops... Also gasoline. Many cars lined up in front of gas station to buy gasoline. But I don't think many people need gasoline right now. I felt they should wait.
In such situation, some internet users started unique campaign as well as energy saving. The name of their campaign is the operation Ueshima (ウエシマ作戦). Ueshima is Japanese comedian and in this campaign we try not to buy too much. I think, it's tough to explain why Ueshima, then I won't write about that today.
Anyway, this is story about around Tokyo. I think, many people in Tohoku area are waiting for food, medicine and oil supply. And we who are living around Tokyo must think about that.
Future
Everything changed on 11th March. We lost 30% of electric energy sources. Trains are no longer available to work as old schedules. We are no longer available to use too much electricity. We are no longer available to see brightness of night view Tokyo. We are no longer available to buy too much. We are no longer available to use gasoline too much.
But it might be great chance to change our lifestyle. We might be able to change our lifestyle with consume electricity 30% less than before. We might be able to build solidly cities that will stand even 50 metres of tsunami hit. We might be able to start clean and safety energy sources.
I believe we can do that. We can build ultimate city which can stand any terrible disaster. We can change our lifestyles to 30% energy efficient one. We can build more useful and safety cities. We can build better political systems. No. We must do that!
At Tanabata matsuri(star festival) in Sendai. (I took this before)
I believe I can update my blog with happy stories soon.
Thank you.
08 March 2011
London trip: Day 2
In the morning, we went to the Wembley Stadium which is located in near the hotel we were staying. I've never seen such a large stadium. It was really big stadium. The stadium was getting ready for the Carling Cup Final 2011 game that would hold on Sunday (27th Feb.) when we arrived there. The game would be Arsenal vs. Birmingham city, and we wished to watch the game at the stadium.
After that, we went to Piccadilly Circus again to check some tickets for the game. We went to some shops there, but we couldn't buy that due to its expensive prices... The cheapest ticket price was £450 for each seats! £450(about 730 USD; about 60,000 JPY)! We gave up to buy the ticket...
I surprised because the entrance fee of the British Museum is free! I also surprised how large it is! Unfortunately, we couldn't see all of these collections... I hope that I can visit here again!
We left the British Museum at afternoon, and visited the St. Paul's Cathedral. Unfortunately, taking photos inside the St. Paul's Cathedral was not allowed. Inside the St. Paul's Cathedral was just beautiful. You should come and see this place. When we entered the cathedral, staff gave us guide like iPod touch. Because of this guide, we could know the history, architecture, music, art and etc.
Of course, we went to dome which we can see around London, and here are some photos that I took there. (I took outside of the cathedral, not inside.) There are 3 galleries in this dome, which are Whispering Gallery (30 metres from Cathedral Floor), Stone Gallery (53 metres from Cathedral Floor) and Golden Gallery (85 metres from Cathedral Floor). In Stone Gallery and Golden Gallery, we can watch outside of the dome and it was really nice.
Thames river and Westminster (London eye, Big Ben and etc).
The City of London.
London Bridge and Tower Bridge.
Unfortunately, it was cloudy when we arrived the Golden Gallery...
We left St. Paul's Cathedral at about 4 p.m., and started to walk around. About an hour of walking, we arrived Tower Bridge. It was really beautiful, because it's nice time of sunset.
Also, the Tower of London was beautiful.
At night, we arrived at Westminster.
When we exited underground's Westminster Station, the big ben was located just behind us! Also, the Westminster Abbey was located near the big ben.
It was so beautiful. So here's the end of my trip on day 2. We walked so much on this day! We will update my day 3 story as soon as possible.
Thank you.
05 March 2011
London trip: Day 1
There are 2 airport near the Tokyo, which are Narita International Airport(成田国際空港:Narita Kokusai Kuukou) and Haneda Airport(羽田空港:Haneda Kuukou). Narita is far away from Tokyo, but most of international flights depart from this airport. My flight was also depart from this airport.
The airplane that is in the photo is the airplane that I board. My flight departed at noon on 25th, Feb. (JST). That was the beginning of my 12.5 hours of flight to London. Can you believe that 12.5 hours on the plane!!
It's the longest flight that I've ever board. The plane departed at noon in JST, and the plane goes north-west. Which means the plane is under the sunshine during its flight. The plane arrived at London Heathrow Airport at 15.30 (GMT). That's weird! I was boarding more than 12 hours, but I was still in the same day! I was a little sleepy, but it was OK. I felt the temperature was a little warmer than I expected.
After I arrived at Heathrow, we went to the hotel in Wembley. It took about 30 minutes to the Hotel by bus. We went to the underground station near the hotel, after we check-in. About 30 minutes of underground trip, we arrived at Piccadilly Circus.
It was cloudy, but we arrived at night so it was not so big problem. Anyway, there were really many people and people were talking in their own words such as Spanish, French and English of course.
I surprised many things at there on first day. For example, in Tokyo people stand on left side, and right side is for people who wants to swoop up when we use escalator. But in London, it was different. Another example, people cannot smoke outside and we can smoke in most of restaurant in Tokyo. But in London we can smoke outside, but we cannot smoke in public places such as restaurants. Of course, underground was not allowed to smoke.
I like this sign. I wrote about smoking, but I don't smoke.
So, this is my London trip: day 1. I hope I can update other stories as soon as possible.
Thank you.
04 March 2011
Came Back!
I came back to Japan yesterday. I'm feeling a little sleepy because I have jet lag now. I need more time to recover from it.
Well, I'm just planning to post about my whole trip as soon as possible. But first I want to import and check my photos that I took during my stay. I think, I need more time to check these photos because there are more than 1,000 photos. I used 2 SD cards which have 8GB of storage. Mostly I took with my DSLR Nikon's D60, but sometimes I took with my iPhone. I forgot how many photos that I took with my iPhone, but I think it's not so many.
Anyway, I will post some articles that about my trip as soon as possible.
Thank you.
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