Quake, Tsunami of March 11, 2011
Great East Japan Earthquake (東日本大震災の記録)
Enquires from overseas friends and my comments on Facebook. And photos of
tsunami-hit areas during my trip in October.
The comments reflect my initial shock, disbelief, then acceptance of the
reality and gradual appreciation of help from overseas. I would like to thank so
many people around the world who helped with our recovery or prayed for us.
The quake and tsunami killed more than 20,000 and led to multiple meltdowns at
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plants.
A fallen tsunami warning on a beach in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, shows evacuation zones on a local map. The tsunami reached far beyond the designated evacuation zones, shown in red and gray dots along the beach, to the Sendai Tobu Highway, the green line on the left. Photo taken in October 2011
3/11 →意識変革 自然 生死 日常への感謝 浪費→節電→発電
■海外の友人たちへ
Quake, tsunami hit northeast Japan
●Hi, we are all safe and well in Tokyo. Thanks for your concern.
Much of the catastrophe we are watching on TV is happening on the COASTS OF NORTHEASTERN JAPAN, not in Tokyo. The rest of Japan – 95 percent of it – is okay and normal. Here in Tokyo we are watching the disaster unfold on TV, just like you are in Michigan and elsewhere. This is not yet the Big One long anticipated for Tokyo.
This is an earthquake country but yesterday’s trembling was unusually strong and lasted for five minutes, so I got under my sturdy desk, with a hard hat on. Anticipating the Big One, I had fixed all of our furniture pieces to the wall or ceiling, so they wouldn’t fall or fly around in the room and hit us (thousands were killed this way in the Kobe quake 16 years ago).
Yesterday, part of the wall came off, the cooking gas stopped, train and cell phone services were halted and I had to cancel an appointment. A tsunami warning was issued so my family and I stayed at a nearby shelter, a school gymnasium, until they told us it's safe to go home.
Outside, there were some fires and traffic is still slow, but things are getting back to normal in Tokyo.
Our hearts are with the tens of thousands of those believed trapped in the cold tsunami mud on the northeast coast.
Sam Ito March 12, 2011, Tokyo
Banner headlines during the first few days.
● Tokyo update, March 18
Hi, things are suddenly slow but okay in Tokyo. The radiation is an ongoing concern but the broken nuclear power reactors are 200 km away, so we'll all live. (The U.S. recommends Americans to evacuate from an 80-km radius zone.)
Life in Tokyo has slowed down to about 60 percent due to deliberate, rotating power blackouts -- a way to hold down consumption and prevent sudden power failures. No outages are planned in my area.
Bread and other food items had disappeared from store shelves, but panic buying ran its course and now I see food returning to shelves.
・"Another quake? When is it going to stop???? How are you and your family doing? Are things getting back to normal or is the radiation becoming a bigger problem? Take care.."
●Tokyo update, April 9, 2011
We are all fine, thanks. The quake on Thursday was scary but the shaking stopped in two minutes. Four dead, many injured across eastern Japan.
Overall, people were well prepared this time, with seven major aftershocks after the March 11 Quake.
Radiation is a big concern when it rains but everyone, including the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, says it's safe outside the 20-mile zone around the crippled nuclear plants. Bloomberg News has reported that radiation in Tokyo is barely above levels in London and New York. Many countries have naturally occurring radiation levels that exceed Tokyo’s, depending on local geology.
Few things are left standing on the seaside. In the back is the Arahama Elementary School. Much of the debri had been cleared away. Photo taken in October 2011
・"Glad
you r ok...praying for u and others"
●Tokyo, April 15
Thanks, .... I appreciate all the support we are getting from friends and the international community.
・"Hi Sam, How's it going? Nothing much new here. Its finally looking like spring with leaves on the trees and flowers blooming. I didn't think winter would ever end...How are you and your family doing> We don't hear much about whats going on over there lately. Most of the news now is about all the tornados and flooding in the middle of the US. Let know how your doing... TTYL "
The tsunami tore away buildings by the beach. Photo taken in October 2011
●Tokyo, May 16
Hi, .... Good to know spring has come in Michigan. My family and I are fine, thanks. People in Tokyo still feel the effects from the tsunami up north. For this summer, the government is asking all households to cut power consumption by 15% because nuclear power plants are down. A lot of people are preparing to use fans instead of air conditioners for the summer. After that we face the prospect of huge tax increases to pay for
reconstruction in the disaster-hit areas. As of today, 15,234 bodies have been recovered、at least 8,616 still missing, 102,000 people are in evacuation centers or makeshift housing … BFN
・Glad to know you're all ok, let us know if you need anything. Sorry can't mail you electricity :( Take care,
A clock outside a Natori City office shows the time it was flooded by the tsunami. Photo taken in October 2011
・July 29 Hi Sam, Whats new? Not much going on here, we got a new puppy who's growing like a weed. He's gone from 6 lbs, to 12 lbs in about 2 weeks, but he's really smart. Write when you get a chance and let us know how you're doing TTYL
●Tokyo,
July 30
Hi,
we are all fine and well. The summer’s not as hot and humid as expected, and
the economy is finally picking up. The radiation in Fukushima has been contained
although many in the affected area still have to worry about residual fallout.
A gutted Cosmo Oil gas station building stands near the beach in October 2011.
・Aug.
23 Hi Sam,
Sorry about the profile pic, my husband put it on there, and I don't know how to change it. Yes I AM a computer moron.
We really enjoy watching the Little League team from Japan play in the World Series. They actually look like they are enjoying themselves compared to some of the other teams, and are so respectful to their coaches. That's not something you see around here very much, respect for your
elders.. Good luck to them!.
We had our first earthquake in about 30 years, no real damage. It would make you laugh to hear the news about it here, when you have them almost everyday... :)
How are things with you and your family? TTYL
●Tokyo, Aug.25
Hi,
... I love that amusing pic. We are all fine here, thanks. After all, we had
enough electricity to get through the scorching summer. I wasn't aware Japan's
Little League team was doing well there, I thought maybe you were referring to
the women's soccer team that won the World Cup. The quake on the east coast was
so unusual! I'm glad to hear from you that there was no real damage. From what I
understand, the shaking around Washington was roughly as violent as the tremor
levels in Tokyo from the big one on March 11 that devastated our northeast
coast. Take care.
・Oct.
28 "Hi Sam,
Whats new with you?
Not much going on here. The leaves have all changed color and are falling off the trees. Its supposed to go down to 33 F tonight. Winter is coming and that sucks.... We don't leave for Florida until the end of December, hopefully it won't snow too much before then. I'm ready for the beach already.
Well, have a great day... Let us know how you and your family are doing.."
●Tokyo, Oct. 31
Hi, ... My family and I are all happy and fine, thanks. Two weeks ago, I traveled up north and had a chance to visit two areas devastated by the tsunami. The debris had been removed, but I saw destroyed houses -- a ghost town on a ghost beach. In Tokyo, life is back to normal, except that thousands of evacuees live among us. I hope you keep warm in Michigan and enjoy your stay in Florida!
●Tokyo, Nov.18
"But
the scientists also played down the impact ... "The levels are not
something that should raise concerns over agricultural production or human
health," ...." (a quote in the Nov. 18, 2011 story in The
Japan Times)
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