Tag Archives: japan

World’s Biggest Anime event cancelled due to Japan disaster

Thousands of anime (Japanese animation) fans hoping to hit one of the world’s biggest anime conventions will have to wait another year.  The event in Tokyo, Japan, was canceled after the 9.0 quake/tsunami.  The event center is now being used to house survivors of the disaster.

Convention officials are now working to refund money to those who already bought tickets, and to more than 190 vendors.

Two weeks after 9.0 Quake, there are still towns that have NOT been helped

NHK reporters made their way to several towns that have NOT received any, or very little, help after the 9.0 quake/tsunami.

What they found is what you’d expect to see after a devastating war.  Only a few dozen people in each town working together to survive. In most towns people find food by scavenging through the destroyed buildings.  They say the Japanese military came and went, leaving hardly any supplies for them, it’s like they were forgotten by the rescue crews.  In one town the people are so angry with the government that they made it clear to the reporters, in a loud way, that the government has done nothing for them.  In another town the people made a steam house to keep warm. They used parts they scavenged from their destroyed town, and when asked how they were heating it, one man said he’s burning what’s left of his house.

Something interesting that reporters and rescue crews are finding, most of the survivors are older people, no kids, no young adults.

Tokyo Electric admits they are not sure how to “proceed” at this time

In response to a reporter’s question, of how they are going to proceed with reactor 3 (with possible core damage), the TEPCo official said they do not know at this time.

This might be another reason why voluntary evacuation has been announced.

Tokyo Electric speculates that reactor core is leaking

TEPCo officials speculate that the contaminated water in the basement of reactor 3, might have come from the reactor core.

It might have been caused by high pressure inside the reactor core.  It could have been caused by valves, or the core was “compromised”.

Pregnant & Breast feeding woman do NOT drink contaminated water

Reporters doing “man on the street” reactions about the radioactive water warnings for infants in Japan, got hit with a common question from mothers, “If I’m breast feeding should I stop drinking the water?”

In an NHK interview a medical expert said that pregnant and breast feeding woman should not drink the contaminated water, even though the levels are deemed safe for adults.

Tokyo Electric joins with Government calling for evacuation preparations

TEPCo officials are echoing the Japanese government’s calls for people to prepare to evacuate.  TEPCo officials now say there is no short term chance that they can stop the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant from emitting radiation.

Also, some media are reporting that work on reactor’s 1 & 2 has been stopped because of highly contaminated water, however TEPCo officials say that is not so.  Yesterday, 3 workers were sent to the hospital with Beta Burns, caused by highly contaminated water in reactor 3.  The water has 10,000 times the radiation levels that are considered normal for the reactor.

 

Reactor 3 severe damage, people need to voluntarily evacuate

Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, that were rushed to the hospital after being exposed to 10,000 times the normal radiation levels, might have been exposed due to previously unknown damage in reactor 3.

The workers were in the basement of reactor 3’s turbine building, trying to reconnect electricity.  The basement was flooded with radioactive water, that held contamination 10,000 times normal.

TEPCo officials are now worried that there is unseen damage to the reactor, because there was no water in the basement the day before.

Because of the continued problem, after problem, with trying to get the Fukushima Daiichi plant under control, the Japanese government has told people outside the 20km (12.4 miles) evacuation zone, to voluntarily evacuate, and prepare for mandatory evacuations.

Japanese companies say main reason for shutdown is damage to buildings

A survey of Japanese businesses that shut down, or reduced production, because of the 9.0 quake/tsunami, shows that at least half blame it on damage to their buildings.

The next biggest reason is destroyed infrastructure: Lack of electricity, destroyed roads/rails.

Japanese Government telling people outside current evacuation area to prepare to Evacuate

Cabinet Secretary, Edano Yukio, has told Japanese living outside the current 20km (12.4 miles) evacuation zone, to prepare for mandatory evacuations.

Edano has also told people, that if they wish, they should voluntarily evacuate now.  The concern is that it looks like efforts to get the reactors at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant under control, are not working.

Also, advisers from the United States, have told TEPCo officials that the use of salty sea water is doing more damage than good. A U.S. Navy tanker ship with fresh water, is on its way to the nuclear plant.