Japan Quake/Tsunami

[Inazuma]

They keep changing the number, but any ideas what the causality rates are really up to?

The last I heard they were up to around 2,000.

[hashiriya1]

They keep changing the number, but any ideas what the causality rates are really up to?

The last I heard they were up to around 2,000.

This page will have an accurate number:

http://www.asahi.com/national/update/03 ... 50082.html

Just look at the number after "shisha" (死者）

Right now it's 2,722.

The 2nd number are the number of people missing. Yukue Fumei 行方不明

That number as of this minute is 3,742.

Sadly both of those numbers keep rising.

[Bradtemple87]

They keep changing the number, but any ideas what the causality rates are really up to?

The last I heard they were up to around 2,000.

This page will have an accurate number:

http://www.asahi.com/national/update/03 ... 50082.html

Just look at the number after "shisha" (死者）

Right now it's 2,722.

The 2nd number are the number of people missing. Yukue Fumei 行方不明

That number as of this minute is 3,742.

Sadly both of those numbers keep rising.

Geez

[hashiriya1]

I received a text on my Japanese phone from one of my friends who lives in Natori, one of the hardest-hit cities. After trying to contact him, he had a small window in which there was network coverage for his phone.

He, Hiroshi, texted me with a joyful message:

"Resurrected! Are you coming to Sendai??" (With a tone of expecting me to come)






On a more somber note, one of my other friends, Shizuka, in Sendai said:

"Electricity was restored today, now all that is left is gas.
I still can't reach Asami"




Asami is a mutual friend. Asami lives in the city of Shiroishi which is about 30 miles south of Sendai. I heard it wasn't affected too badly by the tsunami. I hope she escaped the quake without injury.


I just got this email from one of the guys I was trying to contact. He was on the list
I mentioned earlier. Yukihiro aka "Mattchan" seems in high spirits, but that is
typical of him.

It says:

"Thanks for your email!

Everybody at A-GARAGE is fine! Everyone is in a bind because food and gasoline here is running out but we will do our best!
I was finally able to connect to the internet,
but it seems it will cut out at any second. I'll email you again when I'm able!

Mattchan!"
*A-GARAGE is a placed I always hung out to work on and talk cars on the weekends
when I lived in Sendai.




I am getting updates on the status of Sendai that the news could never give. I am grateful to my old friends in Sendai who take the time to let me know what is going on. Having lived in Sendai for a long time, I feel I have to get out there somehow to help. The problem is the Sendai airport is in ruin and so are the train tracks that lead up there.

I also got message email from another Sendai friend. She was unaffected by the quake and tsunami but she made it very clear that she wants me to deliver the message to all people outside of Japan, which she told me via Skype:

"Tell your friends in America that we are forever grateful for the support that America and the rest of the world has shown us. We really appreciate it. Get the word out, NOW."

[D.D.D.]

Gag is roughly 130/L. Now if you can find gas, 140~150 if the place isn't price gouging.

I thought it would be higher than that, I'm glad the powers that be are keeping it down. I remember in the summer of 2008 it was 170/Liter for regular....and there was no disaster.

Well at least they've stayed the same somewhat over yest/today but I've yet to need to go to the pump since Sunday and I'm scared to do so.

Okay... I give up. I finally broke down myself.

I cry whenever I watch a video of the tsunami destroying cities. It's so sad.

*edit*
The two Japanese friends I have kept in contact with are both alive and safe. I just talked with one of them. However, they are worried about the possible meltdown.

I'm glad your friends are safe.

I worry about the nuclear issue... worry a lot.

I've yet to shed a tear simply because I'm a nervous wreck right now and I actually get exhausted from the stress... that and this is all so f'n unbelievable still. I'm just trying to deal with the radioactive winds/steam/??? blowing towards us now. Took a shower & scrubbed down hard and washed the clothes. I'm just still incredibly uneasy at this time.
I'm torn internally between leaving right now and leaving my life behind me or staying a little longer every few hours depending on the news. I'm not even in the "disaster area" and this sucks so f'n hard.

[Bradtemple87]

That's great you finally got some contact Terrence

[gtmtnbiker]

The amount of death and destruction from this disaster is quite appalling. The pictures that I've seen shows how powerful nature can be. Quite incredible. I will be doing my part to donate for humanitarian relief.

In looking at the pictures, I noticed a large number of people wearing surgical masks. Why is this the case? I don't think this is related to the disaster as I saw people wearing them at photos of the 3DS launch.

[Upsidedown Fuji]

hashiriya1

I am relieved to see your friends are well. My friend used to live in Shirakawa but I convinced him to move last year to Niigata. I think he's pretty happy about that coincidence. Again, it's a great relief your friends are ok. I hope more good stories like yours happen more and more as the days pass.

As for me, I'm not really that close to Fukushima but my wife was pretty shaken up over the past few days. She's calmed down a lot since then but its hard to tell her its fine when I really don't even know what's really going on...I'm not sure my feelings are justified but its not every day stuff like this happens.

I really pray that those reactors in Fukushima don't get any worse than they are now. We really need to be focusing on the rescue and restoration effort of the tsunami hit areas. The whole nuclear part of this disaster just complicates things even further than they need to be.

I wish the problem was as easy as most Japanese mis management issues where guys just step down from their positions. Unfortunately this isn't as easy to squirm out of responsibility from.

For a disaster like this, I can't think of a better place to be than Japan. The people here are awesome. If this were to happen back in America where I'm from, I'm sure we'd have riots and looting within hours of the disaster. I still love my home
country though despite that fact.

Anyhow forgive me all for my unrelated rant. Living in Japan with all this news really does take a toll on me mentally. It doesn't even help that Japanese news is so calm and nearly emotion-less in relaying the news. In a way I commend them in keeping people calm with their own example of calmness.

Oh and a huge earthquake just hit as I was typing this. My wife is crying in the shower.

We just had a 5.0 aftershake/quake. It felt more violent than Friday's. I live in Yamanashi.

[Breetai]

Hashiriya, that is so great that you have heard from a bunch of your friends!!!

DDD, what can I say? It seems you have a big decision to make. Is it feasible for you to take a trip to western Japan, Korea, Thailand, etc. for a week or two? Getting out for a bit would surely be a good thing if possible.

Fuji, all I can say is stay strong for your wife. My wife is doing well, but has her moments where it is tough. She has been absolutely glued to the TV. Here in Canada, they are actually broadcasting NHK live (Japanese NHK, not international), just for the Japanese people in Ontario. This is through the Shaw cable company. Good on them for doing that!

[Ivo]

Some very stressful situations for those living there

In looking at the pictures, I noticed a large number of people wearing surgical masks. Why is this the case? I don't think this is related to the disaster as I saw people wearing them at photos of the 3DS launch.

It is due to concerns about pollution.

With the disaster there may be more reason to wear masks as there may be more dust particles and such in the air from the shaking and destroyed buildings I guess.

Also, although it won't stop radioactivity, it may keep dust contaminated from being breathed in, so it can also reduce problems from that.

Ivo.