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.
4 comments:
hai Masaya.. i feel sorry for what happens in Japan..
I hope the Japanese people are doing ok. I love Japan, and this is not nice for me either. Japanese people don't deserve it. Good luck and be strong all Japanese people..
Thank you.
Randomly came upon your blog, I liked this inside view of Japan. in the States all we see is what our nation deems newsworthy. Worrying about radiation in California... Who cares about that when the people of Japan are going through so much more? Thank you for sharing.
Thanks. Most of people don't understand what's happening and how radioactive effect to our health. Maybe we need to learn about these things in junior-high or senior-high schools.
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