JET program officials worry that Japan disasters will drive away foreign teachers

‘‘I want more JETs to come and interact with the locals in the future but due to the current situation, I cannot welcome them open-handedly. I hope life gets back to normal as soon as possible.”-Hoshi Kazuyuki, assistant director at the international affairs section at the Miyagi prefectural government.

Organizers of the Japan Exchange and […] Continue Reading…

Bodies found contaminated with Radiation!

A body found in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, about 5 km (3.1 miles) from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, tested positive for high levels of radiation.  As many as 1,000 bodies of victims of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami, might be contaminated with radiation, delaying their recovery.

Police officers, doctors and bereaved families may […] Continue Reading…

McDonald’s, Subway & Starbucks struggle in Japan

McDonald’s fast food restaurants around the world rely on regional, or local, suppliers for their food products.

Thanks to the March 11 disasters, and radiation threat, Japanese McDonald’s lost many of their local sources. Now suppliers in the United States, and other parts of the world, are sending food to the Japanese McDonald’s.

There are more […] Continue Reading…

Airlines cutting service to Japan

Several airlines around the world announced cuts, even total cancellations, of flights to Japan.

American Airlines will suspend two daily flights between the U.S. and Japan, from April 7 through 25. Officials blame a huge drop in passengers wanting to fly to Japan.

Delta Air Lines cut capacity on flights to Japan by 20%.

Russian company, Vladivostok […] Continue Reading…

Hayao Miyazaki’s latest Anime may be what’s needed for Japan

Famous Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki (Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, etc), says his latest anime should be right for the time.

The new movie, a co-production with his son, Goro Miyazaki, is called ”Kokurikozaka Kara”.  It is based on a 30 year old comic book series (Manga) about teenagers trying to do well in […] Continue Reading…

Idaho detects Xenon and Iodine, New York picks up Iodine

New York state is reporting trace amounts of Iodine-131.

Also, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality reported, on its March 29 RadNet posting, that trace amounts of Iodine-131 and Xenon-133 has been detected in the Gem State.  The Idaho DEQ runs monitoring sites in Spokane, Washington, and Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Both states say the levels are […] Continue Reading…

IAEA joins Greenpeace in Pushing for Evacuation!

The International Atomic Energy Agency stated that one of the criteria for ordering mandatory evacuations, around Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, has been reached.

The IAEA says they found dangerous radiation levels in a town outside the current 20km (12.4 miles) evacuation zone.  The town is about 40km (24.8 miles) away from the nuclear plant. Earlier […] Continue Reading…

Japanese scientists say most Tsunami damage occured with Backwash

Japanese scientist, going over the damage from 11 March tsunami, say buildings made of the toughest concrete, and several stories tall, were totally destroyed by the tsunami.  That included building that were thought to be safe for use as emergency shelters, of course most people in those shelters died.

The scientist say the most damage […] Continue Reading…

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