We Chinese

[Russell]

Yea, but you can't compare Fukushima Daiichi disaster to the Chinese "Shit"kansen disaster.

The Fukushima Daiichi disaster was actually caused by a Natural Disaster.

The sneaky little Chinese (at first) Lied about their disaster, by stating that their so called "Bullet Train of Superior Technology" was "Hit by Lightning".

Nobody around the World or in China believed their Bullshit Story, and when People started going Crazy in China, the Chinese Government finally caved-in, pointed some fingers, and finally confessed the Truth: Faulty Equipment and Operator Error.

The Fukushima Daiichi disaster was caused by Horrible Earthquake and a Raging Tsunami.

Furthermore, the Fukushima Daiichi survived the Earthquake...it was the Tsunami that destroyed the reactors.

I don't agree with the Japanese Government or TEPCO. I think they should've buried Fukushima Daiichi a long time ago before half of the Country got Radiated, but they believe it's salvageable and worth saving (despite the popular objections).

No, the Fukushima Daiichi did not survive the earthquake intact, but it was unnoticed, because the Tsunami followed it soon. This has been reported in the news. The reason why there were immediate problems, are multiple: design errors and substandard maintenance. Of course, the Tsunami made the already serious problems much worse, but most of the nuclear disaster is man-made, not natural.

[Hikonejou]

No, the Fukushima Daiichi did not survive the earthquake intact, but it was unnoticed, because the Tsunami followed it soon. This has been reported in the news. The reason why there were immediate problems, are multiple: design errors and substandard maintenance. Of course, the Tsunami made the already serious problems much worse, but most of the nuclear disaster is man-made, not natural.

I just find it difficult to believe that the Japanese have substandard maintenace. The design problems may not have been entirely at their fault either. I do belive that there is a lot of outside influence into Japans Nuclear Reactor desings and maintenace.

I agree with you that Fukushima Daiichi was a "Man-Made" disaster, only because TEPCO refused to bury the plant after the first meltdown.

[Ganma]

[Samurai_Jerk]

I just find it difficult to believe that the Japanese have substandard maintenace.

Are you fucking kidding me? This country is full of corner cutting and substandard construction.

[Russell]

I just find it difficult to believe that the Japanese have substandard maintenace. The design problems may not have been entirely at their fault either. I do belive that there is a lot of outside influence into Japans Nuclear Reactor desings and maintenace.

I agree with you that Fukushima Daiichi was a "Man-Made" disaster, only because TEPCO refused to bury the plant after the first meltdown.

One of the Fukushima reactor vessels was built by Hitachi, and it had a structural problem, which could only be solved by building a new one, but this would have been at a high cost. "Fortunately", at the time there was a young engineer who found a way around the fault, and he designed reinforcements in the vessel to make it in the "right shape". He was richly awarded in the following bonus season. The young designer being a human, however, started to feel guilty about this after many years, because he clearly understood the risks of sub-standard reactor vessels. His act of coming forward, however, was not appreciated, and he was effectively ignored. This is one of the reactor vessels that later broke down in March 2011.

GM (the American company selling the nuke plants) may not be without blame, but they were pretty strict, as I have heard from someone I know very well who was involved in the construction of a similar plant in the Netherlands. Over the years, upgrades have been recommended for similar plants to improve safety, and these recommendations were followed in the US, but virtually ignored in Japan.

Need I continue?

[FG Lurker]

I just find it difficult to believe that the Japanese have substandard maintenace.

Perhaps because you are delusional? Corner-cutting during construction and substandard (or a total lack of) maintenance are not at all uncommon in Japan.

Perhaps you have forgotten that during the Hanshin quake a large section of expressway fell over because it wasn't built properly? Instead of filling the support structure with concrete it was left hollow and filled with garbage! How about Kansai Airport that was built at huge cost and then sunk way faster than predicted? Then there was the "Aneha scandal" where something close to 100 buildings were designed and built with falsified earthquake resistance data. These are just a few of the problems that have come to light.

The design problems may not have been entirely at their fault either. I do belive that there is a lot of outside influence into Japans Nuclear Reactor desings and maintenace.

GE designed the reactors but they were built and maintained by Japanese companies and licensed as safe by the Japanese government. Certainly modern reactor designs are safer than these ~40 year old versions but it's pretty tough to point fingers at GE when Japan built and has managed the reactors for the past 4 decades.

I agree with you that Fukushima Daiichi was a "Man-Made" disaster, only because TEPCO refused to bury the plant after the first meltdown.

You can't just bury a reactor and hope the problem will go away.

[Hikonejou]

Yea, well the Japanese certainly did not cut corners on their Shinkansen. You might rub them in the face about failures due to extreme natural disasters (Hanshin Daishinsai), but overall and compared to most countries Japan's safety standards are better than most.

[Russell]

Yea, well the Japanese certainly did not cut corners on their Shinkansen. You might rub them in the face about failures due to extreme natural disasters (Hanshin Daishinsai), but overall and compared to most countries Japan's safety standards are better than most.

I agree that the Shinkansen has excellent safety standards. They are not perfect, though: there was a time when parts fell off after introduction of a new type.
In general, people in Japan seem to have pride in their work, and this contributes to good quality. It is one of the points I like so much about this place. However, unfortunately, there are also many people or companies who cut corners if they think they think they can get away with it.

[Edit to my previous post:] I mean GE, not GM, as the company selling the nuke plant.

[matsuki]

You might rub them in the face about [s]failures due to[/s] [color="Red"]corruption exposed by[/color] extreme natural disasters (Hanshin Daishinsai), but overall and compared to most countries Japan's safety standards are better than most.

Fix'd that for yah

Japanese "safety standards" overall?

Think about that for a second...if a large fire broke out in most neighborhoods here, how many houses do you think it would spread to before they were able to get any sort of extinguishing equipment in there? (that's if they can find a vehicle to maneuver through the narrow streets) In many cases, "safety standards" here are just what is possible without too much of a burden. The Shinkansen safety record is indeed exceptional but it is definitely not the standard for safety in Japan.

[Yokohammer]

Japan has great safety standards!

It's just that nobody abides by them.

[Iraira]

[matsuki]

Japan has great safety standards!

It's just that nobody abides by them.

Haha, and when they get caught, it's all "it couldn't be helped" and "shoganai" with no penalties despite the violations. Beef anyone?

[Samurai_Jerk]

[james]

I just find it difficult to believe that the Japanese have substandard maintenace.

you're new here, aren't you?

[Yokohammer]

:rofl: you're new here, aren't you?

His "Location" is Houston TX, so he's not even here.

[Greji]

I see blocked fire escapes all time in Japan. There used to be a coat rack in front of the one at my office. After 3/11 they decided to move it though.

SJ you might mention the J-attention to detail in such affairs as the fire at the Hotel New Japan with blocked exits and sprinkler systems that were in not functional and in some cases, not even connected to waterlines. But they were fortunate in that they were able to blame the fire on an FG smoking in bed, so that made everything understandable to everyone with the exception of those that died in the flames.....

[Hikonejou]

His "Location" is Houston TX, so he's not even here.

I'll be there next year around July...
Teaching Engrish.

[Taro Toporific]

I'll be there next year around July...
Teaching Engrish.

A proto-n00B, hee, hee.

[Typhoon]

We Chinese of Orient are
In cloned trains we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following the Red Star

Red Star of wonder, star of might
Star with CCP beauty bright
Eastward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

We Chinese of Orient are
With a death grip we traverse afar
In high speed train, you'll feel no pain
Diving with the Red Star

[sung to the tune of We Three Kings of Orient Are ]

[Mulboyne]

I just find it difficult to believe that the Japanese have substandard maintenace.

Substandard maintenance is indeed a problem. A lot of the maintenance schedules set up in Japan were done so when equipment was regularly being replaced and upgraded. A few years after the bubble burst, companies and organizations no longer had the budgets to still do so but the old maintenance regimes remained. Then you add in that fact that old equipment started to be used more intensively and you saw a good deal of creaking.

Japan is still a cut above a lot of developed nations but not to the degree you'd expect from the country's reputation for engineering prowess.

[Samurai_Jerk]

[cujojpn]

[Taro Toporific]

Japanese news groups are laughing at this Chinese train fight video...

[YT]-__T85Zkf9E[/YT]

[matsuki]

Japanese news groups are laughing at this Chinese train fight video...

[YT]-__T85Zkf9E[/YT]

As am I...but it's far more entertaining than squeezing onto trains like cattle in Tokyo.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Japanese news groups are laughing at this Chinese train fight video...

Utterly barbaric...almost as bad as walking through a train carriage with a huge pool of vomit and a middle-aged man in a suit spreadeagled on the floor beside it. Thank God we don't see that sort of shit here, huh?

[james]

why we left our factories in china

article details one company's decision to move their production back to the u.s.

[matsuki]

why we left our factories in china

article details one company's decision to move their production back to the u.s.

Sleek Audio's costs are about 15% to 20% higher because of the move back

15~20% more is definitely worth it...that article is spot on in regards to the hidden costs in dealing with China. Defective batches with serious QC problems can kill you and there is no accountability...it's China. It could go even further and talk about bait and switch tactics and all the other messed up stuff they do like making counterfeit copies of your products and competing with you. I'm surprised more companies don't use other countries where the labor cost are as good or close to as cheap.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Japanese news groups are laughing at this Chinese train fight video...

[YT]-__T85Zkf9E[/YT]

That's not a public transportation fight. This is a public transportation fight:

[yt]lQJFv9SMSMQ[/yt]

[Yokohammer]

Who was it who used to do the "don't fuck with old guys" routine?

I think it was either Richard Pryor or George Carlin. Most probably Pryor.

"Old guys gonna whup your ass ... boom boom boom ..."

[FG Lurker]

That's not a public transportation fight. This is a public transportation fight:

Yeah, that's what I thought of as soon as I saw Taro's post.