Tohoku Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster!!!

[Mulboyne]

There's an air of unreality in Tokyo right now. The city escaped significant damage which means I'm watching the terrible scenes from the north as a spectator rather than a participant. And yet power cuts threaten to be more disruptive of daily life than any aftershocks. It's difficult to know what shops will be open and what trains will be running and that's encouraging a degree of hoarding. We have it easy compared with the nearly half million displaced in Tohoku but it certainly feels very strange.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

There's an air of unreality in Tokyo right now. The city escaped significant damage which means I'm watching the terrible scenes from the north as a spectator rather than a participant. And yet power cuts threaten to be more disruptive of daily life than any aftershocks. It's difficult to know what shops will be open and what trains will be running and that's encouraging a degree of hoarding. We have it easy compared with the nearly half million displaced in Tohoku but it certainly feels very strange.

yeah, it really does feel strange. hotel management just delivered a helmet to my room with a letter about due to the current circumstances, they've taken the liberty of supplying each guest with a helmet. in kenya blackouts were a daily thing during the droughts, but in a place like tokyo, this just feels so weird.

[Mulboyne]

TEPCO is reporting a power outage in parts of Meguro. That's not a scheduled shutdown, it just happened.

[sublight]

Anyone think we'll be evacuated out, before it's too late?

As a US citizen who's not working for a defense contractor and has no political connections, I'll be counting on the Martians to evacuate me before my embassy does.

[matsuki]

There's an air of unreality in Tokyo right now. The city escaped significant damage which means I'm watching the terrible scenes from the north as a spectator rather than a participant. And yet power cuts threaten to be more disruptive of daily life than any aftershocks. It's difficult to know what shops will be open and what trains will be running and that's encouraging a degree of hoarding. We have it easy compared with the nearly half million displaced in Tohoku but it certainly feels very strange.

THIS

I'm glad I got most of my shopping done before everything was wiped out but now I'm looking at those blackout schedules and regardless of what changes, trying to figure out how I can best keep what's in the fridge/freezer from being ruined....

[Mike Oxlong]

Trolls swamp Google Person Finder...

http://www.japanprobe.com/2011/03/14/warning-do-not-trust-death-reports-on-google-person-finder/

[Samurai_Jerk]

There's an air of unreality in Tokyo right now. The city escaped significant damage which means I'm watching the terrible scenes from the north as a spectator rather than a participant. And yet power cuts threaten to be more disruptive of daily life than any aftershocks. It's difficult to know what shops will be open and what trains will be running and that's encouraging a degree of hoarding. We have it easy compared with the nearly half million displaced in Tohoku but it certainly feels very strange.

Yeah, I went out for a little grocery shopping today but wasn't able to get anything I wanted. No one has bread anywhere and the convenience stores are completely wiped too.

[matsuki]

What about bread.....makers? Aren't they one of the hottest items lately?

[Osakadave]

As a US citizen who's not working for a defense contractor and has no political connections, I'll be counting on the Martians to evacuate me before my embassy does.

I may be misremembering after 15 years, but I don't think there was any similar effort in 95.

[matsuki]

Anyone else looking at the Tepco sheet on the rolling blackouts v.1.948903849504 and seeing your place listed under group 1, 2, AND 3???

[Coligny]

I may be misremembering after 15 years, but I don't think there was any similar effort in 95.

Because 95 was "just" a gigantic quake...

[FG Lurker]

Because 95 was "just" a gigantic quake...

Nah, '95 was in Kansai and everyone knows that anything that doesn't directly affect Tokyo doesn't matter.

[BigInJapan]

Anyone else looking at the Tepco sheet on the rolling blackouts v.1.948903849504 and seeing your place listed under group 1, 2, AND 3???

Here in Yokohama (group 1, 2, 3, and 4?) we were supposed to have one this morning (nope), and a k-truck whipped around the neighbourhood this afternoon announcing one from 4:50 - 8:30 - nothing yet and it's 6:30 pm.

[Coligny]

BREAKING NEWS: No.1, No.2 reactors pull out of emergency: TEPCO - Kyodo

[canman]

Lurker you hit it dead on. I'm sorry for those of you in Tokyo who have to go without power for a few hours, but the TV coverage of how put out the people are is quite sickening. I have students who still can't contact family and have no idea what is going on, while others are still hold up in school gymnasiums, with little or no food, privacy, water or bathing facilities, and people are so stressed about losing power for a few hours. Sorry but that is low on the priority list.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

i think that TEPCO has been accurate in scheduling the blackouts, but there more be more power remaining in the grid when the appointed blackout time started. Which means they're probably providing power as long as it's still available.

Bottom line is everyone should just turn off anything they don't need to use...every little bit helps!

[CrankyBastard]

Hang in there Canman, folks here ain't really bitching, it's just a way to vent frustration at not being able to take control of the situation.
Cranky.

[matsuki]

Canman, we realize how lucky we are...it's not bitching as much as it is just dealing with we have here. The less shit that goes wrong here means the more help/aid that can sent from here to where it's really needed.

If you dont know the kanji for your place, go to this link and put in your zip code to find your group. No hyphen.

http://nyatta.com/rinban/index.php


BTW, anyone else seeing Pachinko places operating business as usual? WTF??

[canman]

Yeah I here you Cranky, and I do appreciate all the support we are getting from the board, and I wasn't signaling anyone on this site, just the general Tokyo attitude. If it doesn't affect Tokyo it isn't a big deal.
What I would like to know, is it really necessary for all these workers to go to their companies at the same time? Could they not stagger the hours so there would be less strain on the system. That seems to be the most logical solution.

[wuchan]

Could they not stagger the hours so there would be less strain on the system. That seems to be the most logical solution.

and that's the problem.

[FG Lurker]

On a side note, I was supposed to fly to Canada on Tuesday, but they still don't know when the Shinkansen will start running and all the flights out of Misawa are booked. Do you think Air Canada will allow me to cancel or rebook later? I called there Japanese site and it says that Sunday is a holiday, I called the international number and was told I had to wait 1.5 hours to talk to a customer rep.

You may already have found this information but I figured I would post it anyway. Air Canada is allowing cancellations without cancellation fee for any flight booked before that quake that departs up to March 18th. The issuing agent may charge a few thousand yen (this is normal) but there should be no cost beyond that for the Air Canada ticket.

[Coligny]

and that's the problem.

And also not the first time this problem is brought up...

But seriously... If shop could open a bit earlier... if we could be a little more in sync with the sun daylight... and on and on and on...

[Samurai_Jerk]

What I would like to know, is it really necessary for all these workers to go to their companies at the same time? Could they not stagger the hours so there would be less strain on the system. That seems to be the most logical solution.

I don't see how that would help because at some point in the middle of the day there would be overlap when everyone was at work and you'd end up with the same problem.

[Coligny]

I don't see how that would help because at some point in the middle of the day there would be overlap when everyone was at work and you'd end up with the same problem.

Tell that to the mass transit operators... it's not because you don't solve all problems that you should solve none...

[canman]

Lurked I called AC this morning and they let me cancel with a full refund. Good on you Air Canada. My parents were disappointed but I couldn't leave during this trying time.

[GomiGirl]

There's an air of unreality in Tokyo right now. The city escaped significant damage which means I'm watching the terrible scenes from the north as a spectator rather than a participant. And yet power cuts threaten to be more disruptive of daily life than any aftershocks. It's difficult to know what shops will be open and what trains will be running and that's encouraging a degree of hoarding. We have it easy compared with the nearly half million displaced in Tohoku but it certainly feels very strange.

It is really odd around town as it is so relatively quiet. I walked to/from the office today cos I can and also to avoid the trains that don't need anybody extra - let alone the stroller.

But the streets are quiet, shops around Harajuku are closed. Around my local shotengai the supermarket was closing early but I managed to pick up a few packs of flour so I plan to be baking bread tomorrow. The shops that are open are running on low lighting.

Anybody is welcome to come over. I am fully stocked as my Co-Op grocery delivery arrived today no problem.

But I am only using minimal lighting and power myself as I guess every bit helps.

But I have stopped watching BBC as it is really nothing new and just rehashing the same old speculation of gloom and doom. I may be accused of being a pollyanna but I think the worst is behind us here in Tokyo. We need to stop living in fear, regroup and help the folks that have lost everything.

[Mike Oxlong]

[Cyka UchuuJin]

It is really odd around town as it is so relatively quiet. I walked to/from the office today cos I can and also to avoid the trains that don't need anybody extra - let alone the stroller.

But the streets are quiet, shops around Harajuku are closed. Around my local shotengai the supermarket was closing early but I managed to pick up a few packs of flour so I plan to be baking bread tomorrow. The shops that are open are running on low lighting.

Anybody is welcome to come over. I am fully stocked as my Co-Op grocery delivery arrived today no problem.

But I am only using minimal lighting and power myself as I guess every bit helps.

But I have stopped watching BBC as it is really nothing new and just rehashing the same old speculation of gloom and doom. I may be accused of being a pollyanna but I think the worst is behind us here in Tokyo. We need to stop living in fear, regroup and help the folks that have lost everything.

i really wish i could have come to see you today! they've had the elevators randomly off and on, and considering i couldn't get on the flight yesterday because i had luggage left behind somewhere, it's just not a good idea for me to venture very far.

you're right about the gloom and doom reporting. it's really annoying, i've quit watching any cnn or western media, it's nothing but doomsday reporting.

[Taka-Okami]

Blah Blah Blah, getting a bit sick of the same re-hashed shit on TV. EACH AND EVERY DAY, an estimated 24,000 kids under 5 die simply becasue they can't get clean water.

http://water.org/learn-about-the-water-crisis/facts/

[AssKissinger]

But I have stopped watching BBC as it is really nothing new and just rehashing the same old speculation of gloom and doom. I may be accused of being a pollyanna but I think the worst is behind us here in Tokyo. We need to stop living in fear, regroup and help the folks that have lost everything

One report on CNN left me thinking that a full scale Chernobyl style meltdown was already happening. Then five minutes later they were saying the worst of it is these expensive reactors won't work any more. I know it's pointless but I even sent them an email telling them they need to stop just spewing alarmist bullshit until they get their damn facts straight. My wife and I were horrified. I mean, we're already horrified, my in-laws are cold (off and on), running out of food and medicine, scared shitless, and then they tell us they're being radiated when they weren't. It's like a kick in the balls just to keep you watching.