Tag Archives: disaster

Fukushima, Technology

People still can’t get their money out of Japanese banks

A week after the 9.0 quake, computer system problems continue for Japanese banks.

Mizuho Bank is unable to process salary payments for more than half a million people.

Also, Internet banking and ATMs would be offline over Japan’s upcoming three-day weekend.

On Thursday, Mizuho bank’s nationwide ATM network of more than 5,600 machines went offline until midday, then failed again in the evening, and more  problems on Friday.

Like I said before, another good reason to keep your money under the mattress (unless you think it’ll float away in the flood).

Business/Economics, Fukushima

General Motors continues to get hit by Japan disaster

As a result of the ongoing disaster in Japan, General Motors suspended all nonessential spending and global travel, a GM spokesman announced.

In addition, GM will suspend production in Spain, and cancel two shifts in Germany.

Even a small supplier of products that are fed to a bigger supplier that feeds the automaker’s assembly plants can delay or halt vehicle production.

Think of the “always a bigger fish” example, but in reverse.  If there are no little fish to eat, what can the bigger fish do?

Fukushima

Japanese public television better prepared than nuclear plant?

NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation in English) has covered hundreds of natural disasters in Japan.   NHK has eight broadcasting centers, 46 local stations, 14 helicopters on permanent standby all over the country, and 460 remote-controlled cameras at ports and other key locations from which it can beam live footage at any moment.  (wow, I wish the stations I worked for here in western U.S. had that stuff!)

There’s also a hotline to the Meteorological Agency and automated access to the earthquake early warning system.  In fact NHK viewers got a 90 seconds warning before the 9.0 quake struck.

One reason why NHK is so prepared to cover disasters: NHK holds emergency broadcast drills every night at midnight.

International

More proof you can’t rely on the government

Kazuhiro Takahashi could be taken for a transient, scavenging for food, but he is just another hungry victim of Japan’s tsunami trying to find food for his family.

“I am so ashamed, but for three days we don’t have enough food. I have no money because my house was washed away by the tsunami and the cash machine is not working.”

Other tsunami survivors dig through smashed-up supermarkets, hoping to find food to supplement the meager government rations. 

“This is so shaming, but I have given up on the government. We cannot rely on them so we have to help ourselves.”

Business/Economics, International

Yakuza beats out Japanese government on disaster response

Hours after the first shock waves hit, several of the largest crime groups in the Japanese mafia, opened their offices to those stranded in Tokyo, and shipped food, water, and blankets to the devastated areas.

The Inagawa-kai (the third largest organized crime group) sent twenty-five trucks filled with diapers, ramen, batteries, flashlights and drinks to the Tohoku region.

The Sumiyoshi-kai (the second-largest crime group) offered refuge to members of the foreign community, which is unheard of amongst the right-wing yakuza.

The Yamaguchi-gumi (largest crime group) opened its offices across the country to the public, and is very quietly sending truckloads of supplies.

Fukushima

Sea water may be cause of pressure in Reactor 3

TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company) officials say sea water entering the suppression chamber (containment vessel?) might be causing the pressure build up in reactor 3.

They noticed when spraying of sea water the pressure increased, also, when they stopped the pressure went down, but it is still higher than before the sea water was sprayed.

Business/Economics, Fukushima

Honda stops sales to the United States

Honda is suspending May orders from U.S. Honda dealers.

Typically, dealers order cars six weeks in advance.  Honda hopes to resume partial production in Japan by Wednesday, but doesn’t know when production will return to full capacity due to the developing nuclear disaster.

This will affect the availability of the Fit, CR-Z, Civic Hybrid, Insight, Acura TSX, Acura RL and a small number of CR-Vs.