The Japanese government is struggling to remove millions of tons of debris from the country's northeast, more than 9 months after the March earthquake and tsunami.
The goal is to completely transfer 22 million tons of waste from disaster areas to temporary storage sites by the end of next March.
But environment ministry spokespeople say about 7 million tons, or one-third of the total debris, still needs to be hauled away.
They say the main reason for the delay is the time it takes to demolish damaged buildings. The government needs to get the approval of building owners and implement measures to prevent asbestos from scattering when it destroys the structures.
Spokespeople also say the ministry needs to build facilities with incinerators to burn up the debris that has been collected.
That work is progressing slowly because local governments are facing difficulties preparing the land where these facilities would be built.
2011年12月30日金曜日
Preparations for New Year well under way
People in Japan are gearing up for New Year festivities.
A shrine in the rice-growing town of Takanezawa, in Tochigi Prefecture, central Japan, dedicated a 3-layer jumbo rice cake on Friday, in thanks for the passing year's bounty.
The round cake measures 90 centimeters high and weighs 500 kilograms. A forklift carried the lower 2 layers to the hall of worship, while 12 female shrine attendants put the third layer in place.
A citrus fruit measuring 20 centimeters in diameter crowned the traditional New Year decoration.
In Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, a Japanese restaurant is preparing 160 sets of traditional New Year foods using ingredients from Fukushima Prefecture, which was hard hit by the March disaster and subsequent nuclear accident.
The restaurant's operator, who is from the prefecture, says she wants to encourage people in her hometown because they are still suffering from the effects of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
At an aquarium in Yokohama, a 9-year-old otaria, a kind of sea lion, is practicing writing a Chinese character meaning dragon -- the zodiac sign for 2012.
Helped by a keeper, the male otaria, named Jay, wrote the character with a brush in his mouth before a cheering crowd on Friday. He will soon display his writing technique in a New Year event.
A shrine in the rice-growing town of Takanezawa, in Tochigi Prefecture, central Japan, dedicated a 3-layer jumbo rice cake on Friday, in thanks for the passing year's bounty.
The round cake measures 90 centimeters high and weighs 500 kilograms. A forklift carried the lower 2 layers to the hall of worship, while 12 female shrine attendants put the third layer in place.
A citrus fruit measuring 20 centimeters in diameter crowned the traditional New Year decoration.
In Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, a Japanese restaurant is preparing 160 sets of traditional New Year foods using ingredients from Fukushima Prefecture, which was hard hit by the March disaster and subsequent nuclear accident.
The restaurant's operator, who is from the prefecture, says she wants to encourage people in her hometown because they are still suffering from the effects of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
At an aquarium in Yokohama, a 9-year-old otaria, a kind of sea lion, is practicing writing a Chinese character meaning dragon -- the zodiac sign for 2012.
Helped by a keeper, the male otaria, named Jay, wrote the character with a brush in his mouth before a cheering crowd on Friday. He will soon display his writing technique in a New Year event.
2011年12月21日水曜日
Radiation impact on Fukushima kids to be monitored
The Japanese government will monitor the impact of radiation exposure on children born to mothers in Fukushima Prefecture.
The Environment Ministry said on Tuesday that the monitoring program will cover 25,000 children.
The program will look for any links between the radiation exposure of the mothers and congenital abnormalities, asthma, allergies or other diseases of their children.
The checks will continue until the children reach the age of 13.
The ministry decided to carry out the monitoring amid rising public concern about radioactive contamination from the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Fukushima Prefecture is already checking the health of all its residents and their radiation exposure.
The Environment Ministry said on Tuesday that the monitoring program will cover 25,000 children.
The program will look for any links between the radiation exposure of the mothers and congenital abnormalities, asthma, allergies or other diseases of their children.
The checks will continue until the children reach the age of 13.
The ministry decided to carry out the monitoring amid rising public concern about radioactive contamination from the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Fukushima Prefecture is already checking the health of all its residents and their radiation exposure.
Year-end sweeping begins at historic sites
Year-end cleaning got under way at Japan's historic monuments on Tuesday, in an annual ritual ahead of the New Year.
In Nikko, north of Tokyo, an event took place at Toshogu Shrine, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shinto priests and maidens dressed in traditional costumes participated in the work.
At Yomeimon Gate, designated as a national treasure, they used long bamboo brooms and dusters to clean about 500 sculptures.
In Kyoto, about 800 Buddhist priests and followers gathered to sweep at Nishi-Honganji temple.
They beat the dust out of nearly 500 tatami mats in one of the temple halls, and used large fans to clear dust from the building.
In Nikko, north of Tokyo, an event took place at Toshogu Shrine, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shinto priests and maidens dressed in traditional costumes participated in the work.
At Yomeimon Gate, designated as a national treasure, they used long bamboo brooms and dusters to clean about 500 sculptures.
In Kyoto, about 800 Buddhist priests and followers gathered to sweep at Nishi-Honganji temple.
They beat the dust out of nearly 500 tatami mats in one of the temple halls, and used large fans to clear dust from the building.
Mourners head to pro-N.Korean assoc. in Japan
A pro-North Korea association in Japan has begun receiving mourners for the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan opened its offices across Japan to mourners on Wednesday.
Many people were seen visiting the association's headquarters in Tokyo after 10AM, when it started to receive visitors.
A man who visited the headquarters said an altar with a youthful photo of Kim was set up on the second floor. He said visitors were allowed to offer flowers for the late leader.
The association will receive mourners through Thursday.
It says the period of mourning will last until December 29, and memorial ceremonies will be held at its offices across the country on the same day.
The association is also planning to send a delegation to North Korea.
The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan opened its offices across Japan to mourners on Wednesday.
Many people were seen visiting the association's headquarters in Tokyo after 10AM, when it started to receive visitors.
A man who visited the headquarters said an altar with a youthful photo of Kim was set up on the second floor. He said visitors were allowed to offer flowers for the late leader.
The association will receive mourners through Thursday.
It says the period of mourning will last until December 29, and memorial ceremonies will be held at its offices across the country on the same day.
The association is also planning to send a delegation to North Korea.
2011年12月11日日曜日
Children from Miyagi invited to Kobe festival
Children from a city hard-hit by the March 11th disaster have been invited to the Kobe Luminarie festival, featuring the city's annual year-end lighting display.
The lighting displays have been staged since 1995 to mourn the victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake and to express people's determination to rebuild the city.
A non-profit organization in Kobe invited 38 elementary and junior high schools students from Natori city, Miyagi Prefecture, to the festival on Saturday.
The students enjoyed the illumination for about one hour, taking photos.
This year the festival's theme is "the light of hope," and is dedicated to those affected by the March disaster.
A 4th-grade girl said she was impressed by the beauty of the lighting display on her first visit, adding that she wants to come back when she grows up.
A 5th-grader said he was looking forward to visiting Kobe. He said he wants to do all he can to rebuild his hometown just as Kobe was reconstructed.
The lighting displays have been staged since 1995 to mourn the victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake and to express people's determination to rebuild the city.
A non-profit organization in Kobe invited 38 elementary and junior high schools students from Natori city, Miyagi Prefecture, to the festival on Saturday.
The students enjoyed the illumination for about one hour, taking photos.
This year the festival's theme is "the light of hope," and is dedicated to those affected by the March disaster.
A 4th-grade girl said she was impressed by the beauty of the lighting display on her first visit, adding that she wants to come back when she grows up.
A 5th-grader said he was looking forward to visiting Kobe. He said he wants to do all he can to rebuild his hometown just as Kobe was reconstructed.
Lunar eclipse observed on Japan's Pacific coast
People on the Pacific coast of Japan were able to view a total lunar eclipse on Saturday night.
This was the first time in 11 years that an entire lunar eclipse was visible from any place in Japan.
The phenomenon occurs when the earth casts its shadow over a full moon, with the sun, moon, and earth being exactly aligned.
In Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, home to NHK, the shadow started to fall on the moon shortly before 10 PM, Japan time.
The total eclipse was observed just after 11 PM. The moon appeared dusky red due to solar rays refracted in the earth's atmosphere and could be seen with the naked eye for about 50 minutes.
The National Astronomical Observatory says the next total lunar eclipse visible in Japan will occur in October 2014.
This was the first time in 11 years that an entire lunar eclipse was visible from any place in Japan.
The phenomenon occurs when the earth casts its shadow over a full moon, with the sun, moon, and earth being exactly aligned.
In Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, home to NHK, the shadow started to fall on the moon shortly before 10 PM, Japan time.
The total eclipse was observed just after 11 PM. The moon appeared dusky red due to solar rays refracted in the earth's atmosphere and could be seen with the naked eye for about 50 minutes.
The National Astronomical Observatory says the next total lunar eclipse visible in Japan will occur in October 2014.
2011年12月3日土曜日
TEPCO issues interim report on Fukushima accident
The Tokyo Electric Power Company has released an interim report on its in-house probe into the nuclear disaster at the firm's Fukushima Daiichi power plant.
But the report issued on Friday fails to clarify how or why a huge amount of radioactive materials leaked outside the facility.
Based on data and interviews of more than 250 workers since June, the report describes how the giant tsunami on March 11th knocked out almost all of the plant's power sources and all of its fail-safe mechanisms. The report also details how meltdowns occurred at some of the plant's reactors after the accident.
The report says the firm had worked with the government and obtained its endorsement in taking measures to guard the plant from severe accidents before March 11th.
The report also defends as reasonable the utility's effort to contain the damage from the accident.
The report says that the plant lost all of its safety mechanisms because the tsunami was much larger than expected, that workers could not keep up with developments, and that core meltdowns occurred.
The report calls for thorough steps to protect the cooling and power systems of power plants from tsunamis and for installation of an emergency power source in a safe place.
The report calls on the utility to ensure that it has ways to cool reactors in case of further accidents.
The report does not contain an in-depth examination of the utility's failure to immediately submit to the government the firm's 2008 estimate that a tsunami higher than 10 meters could hit the plant. The utility has said it did not submit the estimate immediately because it was based on a groundless hypothesis. The firm eventually submitted the estimate only 4 days before the March 11th disaster.
Much remains unknown about how workers tried to cool the plant's Number 1 reactor -- where a meltdown occurred -- or why the Number 2 reactor ended up releasing a large amount of radioactive materials
But the report issued on Friday fails to clarify how or why a huge amount of radioactive materials leaked outside the facility.
Based on data and interviews of more than 250 workers since June, the report describes how the giant tsunami on March 11th knocked out almost all of the plant's power sources and all of its fail-safe mechanisms. The report also details how meltdowns occurred at some of the plant's reactors after the accident.
The report says the firm had worked with the government and obtained its endorsement in taking measures to guard the plant from severe accidents before March 11th.
The report also defends as reasonable the utility's effort to contain the damage from the accident.
The report says that the plant lost all of its safety mechanisms because the tsunami was much larger than expected, that workers could not keep up with developments, and that core meltdowns occurred.
The report calls for thorough steps to protect the cooling and power systems of power plants from tsunamis and for installation of an emergency power source in a safe place.
The report calls on the utility to ensure that it has ways to cool reactors in case of further accidents.
The report does not contain an in-depth examination of the utility's failure to immediately submit to the government the firm's 2008 estimate that a tsunami higher than 10 meters could hit the plant. The utility has said it did not submit the estimate immediately because it was based on a groundless hypothesis. The firm eventually submitted the estimate only 4 days before the March 11th disaster.
Much remains unknown about how workers tried to cool the plant's Number 1 reactor -- where a meltdown occurred -- or why the Number 2 reactor ended up releasing a large amount of radioactive materials
2011年11月23日水曜日
Post-disaster preparations discussed in Tokyo
Japanese officials in charge of natural disaster measures have discussed preparations for stranded commuters after major disasters such as earthquakes.
National and local government officials along with representatives from business groups held the second meeting of its kind in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Many people were stranded in the Tokyo metropolitan area on March 11th as most public transport was suspended after the quake.
A Cabinet Office survey found that more than 47 percent of over 5,300 respondents said they left their school or office before 6 PM on that day.
The office estimates that 5 million 150,000 people were stranded in Tokyo and the 4 neighboring prefectures, including the southern part of Ibaraki.
A guideline compiled at the meeting says firms should dissuade employees from leaving their offices after disasters as rescue operations and firefighting should be given priority. It recommends that companies store supplies of food and drinking water to last for 3 days.
Tokyo's Deputy Governor Naoki Inose, who chaired the meeting, said it's important for people to realize that they should stay put after a disaster and preparations will be crucial. He added that the Tokyo Metropolitan government will propose a regulation that will require firms to store food and water. He said the guideline should set a tone for policy-making and he hopes that neighboring local governments will follow suit.
National and local government officials along with representatives from business groups held the second meeting of its kind in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Many people were stranded in the Tokyo metropolitan area on March 11th as most public transport was suspended after the quake.
A Cabinet Office survey found that more than 47 percent of over 5,300 respondents said they left their school or office before 6 PM on that day.
The office estimates that 5 million 150,000 people were stranded in Tokyo and the 4 neighboring prefectures, including the southern part of Ibaraki.
A guideline compiled at the meeting says firms should dissuade employees from leaving their offices after disasters as rescue operations and firefighting should be given priority. It recommends that companies store supplies of food and drinking water to last for 3 days.
Tokyo's Deputy Governor Naoki Inose, who chaired the meeting, said it's important for people to realize that they should stay put after a disaster and preparations will be crucial. He added that the Tokyo Metropolitan government will propose a regulation that will require firms to store food and water. He said the guideline should set a tone for policy-making and he hopes that neighboring local governments will follow suit.
2011年11月10日木曜日
TEPCO: hydrogen from reactor caused blast
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant says the explosion of the facility's Number 4 reactor on March 15th was caused by a backflow of hydrogen from an adjacent building.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, announced the finding on Thursday.
The blast was initially thought to have been caused by hydrogen created when spent fuel stored in a pool at the reactor building was damaged by the devastating March 11th quake.
TEPCO workers who entered the building on Tuesday to determine the cause found that the 5th floor was more severely damaged than the 4th, where a pool of spent fuel is located, and that the fuel was intact.
The workers also confirmed that an air conditioning duct on the floor was severely damaged.
TEPCO says the hydrogen likely flowed into the reactor through the duct connected to the plant's Number 3 reactor when workers released pressurized air from it to prevent a hydrogen blast.
The firm says the explosion very likely occurred after the density of hydrogen in the duct increased.
A hydrogen blast took place at the Number 3 building a day before the explosion at the Number 4 building.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, announced the finding on Thursday.
The blast was initially thought to have been caused by hydrogen created when spent fuel stored in a pool at the reactor building was damaged by the devastating March 11th quake.
TEPCO workers who entered the building on Tuesday to determine the cause found that the 5th floor was more severely damaged than the 4th, where a pool of spent fuel is located, and that the fuel was intact.
The workers also confirmed that an air conditioning duct on the floor was severely damaged.
TEPCO says the hydrogen likely flowed into the reactor through the duct connected to the plant's Number 3 reactor when workers released pressurized air from it to prevent a hydrogen blast.
The firm says the explosion very likely occurred after the density of hydrogen in the duct increased.
A hydrogen blast took place at the Number 3 building a day before the explosion at the Number 4 building.
2011年11月7日月曜日
Fish market in tsunami-hit town reopens
A fish market in a northeastern Japanese town that was devastated by the March tsunami has begun trading again.
The market in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, had been closed for about 8 months after the tsunami swept away the market building and an ice-making facility.
On Monday, 20 tons of mackerel, salmon and other fish were brought in. The market's first fish auction since the tsunami was about a half the normal haul for this time of the year but enough to bring life to the market again.
Before the auction, about 30 fishermen and market officials observed a moment of silence for those killed in the disaster.
The head of the town's fisheries cooperative says he has mixed emotions. He says the reopening is only a small step forward and that more fisheries workers should come back to the market.
One dealer says the market will gradually be revitalized now that the fish have returned.
The market in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, had been closed for about 8 months after the tsunami swept away the market building and an ice-making facility.
On Monday, 20 tons of mackerel, salmon and other fish were brought in. The market's first fish auction since the tsunami was about a half the normal haul for this time of the year but enough to bring life to the market again.
Before the auction, about 30 fishermen and market officials observed a moment of silence for those killed in the disaster.
The head of the town's fisheries cooperative says he has mixed emotions. He says the reopening is only a small step forward and that more fisheries workers should come back to the market.
One dealer says the market will gradually be revitalized now that the fish have returned.
Crown Prince to fill in for duties of sick Emperor
Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito will temporarily take over the duties of state affairs for his ailing father, the Emperor.
Emperor Akihito was admitted to the University of Tokyo Hospital on Sunday evening for bronchitis complicated by persistent fever. He entered the hospital accompanied by Empress Michiko.
The 77-year-old Emperor saw doctors earlier in the day and was recommended to stay in the hospital as precaution.
After developing a fever due to a cold on Thursday, he cancelled his attendance at a tea party with recipients of the Order of Culture and Persons of Cultural Merit. The Emperor did not attend a national convention of supporters for people with mental disabilities on Sunday.
The Emperor has had a persistent mild form of bronchitis, but accumulated fatigue is believed to have weakened his immunity and worsened the symptoms.
While the Emperor is in the hospital, Crown Prince Naruhito will take his father's place in awarding this fall's Orders recipients in a ceremony on Monday.
The Crown Prince will be standing in for the Emperor for the first time since January 2003, when his father had surgery for prostate cancer.
The Crown Prince is also expected to attend the 100th anniversary of a donation of forestland by the Meiji Emperor, scheduled for November 13th in Yamanashi Prefecture.
Emperor Akihito was admitted to the University of Tokyo Hospital on Sunday evening for bronchitis complicated by persistent fever. He entered the hospital accompanied by Empress Michiko.
The 77-year-old Emperor saw doctors earlier in the day and was recommended to stay in the hospital as precaution.
After developing a fever due to a cold on Thursday, he cancelled his attendance at a tea party with recipients of the Order of Culture and Persons of Cultural Merit. The Emperor did not attend a national convention of supporters for people with mental disabilities on Sunday.
The Emperor has had a persistent mild form of bronchitis, but accumulated fatigue is believed to have weakened his immunity and worsened the symptoms.
While the Emperor is in the hospital, Crown Prince Naruhito will take his father's place in awarding this fall's Orders recipients in a ceremony on Monday.
The Crown Prince will be standing in for the Emperor for the first time since January 2003, when his father had surgery for prostate cancer.
The Crown Prince is also expected to attend the 100th anniversary of a donation of forestland by the Meiji Emperor, scheduled for November 13th in Yamanashi Prefecture.
2011年10月21日金曜日
"Kotatsu" heaters delivered to disaster survivors
Volunteers are delivering traditional Japanese heaters to survivors of the March 11th disaster, before the start of the harsh winter.
On Friday, evacuees welcomed the arrival of the "kotatsu" heaters at the playground of a junior high school in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture.
The kotatsu is a low table with an electric element fitted to its underside, and a quilt to cover the thighs. The heaters are being jointly provided by Lion's Club groups in Okayama and Taiwan.
The volunteers delivered kotatsu and a letter of encouragement to occupants of housing units in the playground.
The 2 groups plan to donate 600 kotatsu to the Kesennuma evacuees.
On Friday, evacuees welcomed the arrival of the "kotatsu" heaters at the playground of a junior high school in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture.
The kotatsu is a low table with an electric element fitted to its underside, and a quilt to cover the thighs. The heaters are being jointly provided by Lion's Club groups in Okayama and Taiwan.
The volunteers delivered kotatsu and a letter of encouragement to occupants of housing units in the playground.
The 2 groups plan to donate 600 kotatsu to the Kesennuma evacuees.
2011年10月15日土曜日
Radioactive cesium found in plankton off N-plant
High concentrations of radioactive cesium have been found in plankton from the sea near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
Researchers from Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology collected plankton in waters up to 60 kilometers from the coast of Iwaki City in July. They found 669 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium in animal plankton from waters 3 kilometers offshore.
They say a wide range of fish feed on animal plankton and that the contamination could accumulate in the food chain and have a more serious impact when it gets into relatively large fish.
The research group's leader, Professor Takashi Ishimaru, says the plankton were so heavily contaminated because sea currents continuously carried contaminated water southward from the nuclear plant. He says detailed studies are needed to determine how long the effect on fish will continue.
Researchers from Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology collected plankton in waters up to 60 kilometers from the coast of Iwaki City in July. They found 669 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium in animal plankton from waters 3 kilometers offshore.
They say a wide range of fish feed on animal plankton and that the contamination could accumulate in the food chain and have a more serious impact when it gets into relatively large fish.
The research group's leader, Professor Takashi Ishimaru, says the plankton were so heavily contaminated because sea currents continuously carried contaminated water southward from the nuclear plant. He says detailed studies are needed to determine how long the effect on fish will continue.
2011年10月8日土曜日
New safety rules for outdoor nuclear workers
Japan's health ministry will introduce safety guidelines to protect workers who clean up radioactive substances around the disabled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Existing guidelines target only those working indoors at the plant.
Citizens groups had complained that the ministry was not doing enough to minimize the exposure of workers who engage in decontamination outdoors.
The new guidelines will require outdoor clean-up workers to wear protective masks and carry dosimeters to monitor radiation.
The ministry says it will work to ensure that the rules are upheld, as efforts to decontaminate farmland and residential areas near the Daiichi plant will soon begin in earnest.
Existing guidelines target only those working indoors at the plant.
Citizens groups had complained that the ministry was not doing enough to minimize the exposure of workers who engage in decontamination outdoors.
The new guidelines will require outdoor clean-up workers to wear protective masks and carry dosimeters to monitor radiation.
The ministry says it will work to ensure that the rules are upheld, as efforts to decontaminate farmland and residential areas near the Daiichi plant will soon begin in earnest.
Nagasaki "Kunchi" dance festival begins
Thousands of spectators have gathered in Nagasaki City, southwestern Japan, for a traditional autumn festival.
The Nagasaki Kunchi Festival opened on Friday. It dates back 377 years and has been designated a national cultural treasure.
Seven communities in the city took part in dances and other performances at Suwa Shrine.
A group from a community once known for its textile dyeing opened the festival with a dance depicting their work.
Another group from the coastal town of Dejima presented a model of a Dutch-style sailing ship. During the feudal Edo period, Dejima was the only port open to the Netherlands -- Japan's sole trading partner in the West.
In a performance by yet another group, an elementary school student dressed like a fisherman threw a fishing net from a model ship. Spectators applauded when he netted 5 fake carp on the ground.
The festival will run through Sunday with performances across the city.
The Nagasaki Kunchi Festival opened on Friday. It dates back 377 years and has been designated a national cultural treasure.
Seven communities in the city took part in dances and other performances at Suwa Shrine.
A group from a community once known for its textile dyeing opened the festival with a dance depicting their work.
Another group from the coastal town of Dejima presented a model of a Dutch-style sailing ship. During the feudal Edo period, Dejima was the only port open to the Netherlands -- Japan's sole trading partner in the West.
In a performance by yet another group, an elementary school student dressed like a fisherman threw a fishing net from a model ship. Spectators applauded when he netted 5 fake carp on the ground.
The festival will run through Sunday with performances across the city.
2011年10月2日日曜日
Debris from March disaster tested for radiation
Work has begun in Miyagi Prefecture to examine debris left behind by the March 11th natural disaster, and test for radioactive substances released by the nuclear accident in Fukushima.
Testing began on Saturday, at a temporary storage site in Ishinomaki City. Here the quake and tsunami left behind more than 6 million tons of debris -- the largest amount among all municipalities hit by the disaster.
Using heavy machinery, workers removed samples of wood and rubber from a huge pile of debris.
Storage sites across the prefecture are getting close to capacity.
If safe levels of radioactivity are confirmed, local officials hope to move debris to new disposal sites being built in Miyagi Prefecture and also to incineration facilities located outside the prefecture. The testing is aimed at dispelling public safety concerns about the transfer and disposal of debris.
The prefecture plans to measure the radioactivity of debris at 12 storage sites, including those in Kesennuma and Minamisanriku.
One official says he hopes the testing will facilitate the transfer of debris to neighboring regions and help reduce the burden on Miyagi Prefecture.
Testing began on Saturday, at a temporary storage site in Ishinomaki City. Here the quake and tsunami left behind more than 6 million tons of debris -- the largest amount among all municipalities hit by the disaster.
Using heavy machinery, workers removed samples of wood and rubber from a huge pile of debris.
Storage sites across the prefecture are getting close to capacity.
If safe levels of radioactivity are confirmed, local officials hope to move debris to new disposal sites being built in Miyagi Prefecture and also to incineration facilities located outside the prefecture. The testing is aimed at dispelling public safety concerns about the transfer and disposal of debris.
The prefecture plans to measure the radioactivity of debris at 12 storage sites, including those in Kesennuma and Minamisanriku.
One official says he hopes the testing will facilitate the transfer of debris to neighboring regions and help reduce the burden on Miyagi Prefecture.
2011年9月22日木曜日
Unearthed ancient sword bears manufacture date
Archaeologists say an ancient sword recently unearthed in western Japan bears the date of manufacture.
Fukuoka City's board of education says the artifact was found on September 7th in an old stone tomb amongst ruins in the city.
The tomb is believed to have belonged to a powerful local clan. The 75-centimeter-long, steel-made sword is believed to be a grave furnishing.
An X-ray scan has found 19 Chinese characters inscribed on the back of the sword.
The characters say the sword was manufactured on the 6th day of the first month of A.D. 570, in the old Chinese calendar.
3 findings of swords from the Tumulus period bearing the year of their manufacture have been reported in Japan, but none with the exact date.
Kyushu University Professor Yasutoshi Sakaue called the latest finding a milestone as it is the first example of an archaeological find showing the full use of the calendar at that time in Japan.
He says historical records show the traditional calendar was brought to the country from the Korean Peninsula in A.D. 554, 16 years before the date recorded on the Fukuoka sword.
Fukuoka City's board of education says the artifact was found on September 7th in an old stone tomb amongst ruins in the city.
The tomb is believed to have belonged to a powerful local clan. The 75-centimeter-long, steel-made sword is believed to be a grave furnishing.
An X-ray scan has found 19 Chinese characters inscribed on the back of the sword.
The characters say the sword was manufactured on the 6th day of the first month of A.D. 570, in the old Chinese calendar.
3 findings of swords from the Tumulus period bearing the year of their manufacture have been reported in Japan, but none with the exact date.
Kyushu University Professor Yasutoshi Sakaue called the latest finding a milestone as it is the first example of an archaeological find showing the full use of the calendar at that time in Japan.
He says historical records show the traditional calendar was brought to the country from the Korean Peninsula in A.D. 554, 16 years before the date recorded on the Fukuoka sword.
TEPCO releases new images of Fukushima plant
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, has released new video footage of its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The video footage is 3 minutes and 40 seconds long and consists of various clips taken between late June and mid-September.
Footage shot at the No. 1 reactor showed work to cover the reactor building to reduce the release of radioactive substances. A panel of 20 square meters was being lifted with a crane. TEPCO says 8 of the 18 panels needed to cover the entire building had been installed as of Tuesday.
Footage taken at the No. 3 reactor showed workers manually adjusting the volume of water to be injected in order to cool the reactor. Earlier this month, TEPCO began boosting water injection to lower the temperature of the reactor to below 100 degrees Celsius.
The video also showed workers learning how to use dosimeters and how to put on full face masks at a training session.
The company said it is becoming more important to train workers as operations to bring the plant under control proceed. It added that it hopes the images will convey the atmosphere at the site.
The video footage is 3 minutes and 40 seconds long and consists of various clips taken between late June and mid-September.
Footage shot at the No. 1 reactor showed work to cover the reactor building to reduce the release of radioactive substances. A panel of 20 square meters was being lifted with a crane. TEPCO says 8 of the 18 panels needed to cover the entire building had been installed as of Tuesday.
Footage taken at the No. 3 reactor showed workers manually adjusting the volume of water to be injected in order to cool the reactor. Earlier this month, TEPCO began boosting water injection to lower the temperature of the reactor to below 100 degrees Celsius.
The video also showed workers learning how to use dosimeters and how to put on full face masks at a training session.
The company said it is becoming more important to train workers as operations to bring the plant under control proceed. It added that it hopes the images will convey the atmosphere at the site.
2011年9月21日水曜日
A new plan set to reduce radiation emissions
The Japanese government and the operator of the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant say they will install new devices to reduce the amount of radioactive substances released into the air.
The government and Tokyo Electric Power Company, TEPCO, originally planned to achieve a cold shutdown, in which temperatures of the reactors reach below 100 degrees Celsius by January next year.
They now say that they will aim to reach that status within this year, as their work is making steady progress.
The government and TEPCO revealed the plan in their monthly review of the timetable for containing the nuclear crisis.
They will install new devices at the NO.1, No.2 and No.3 reactors to take contaminated gases out of the reactors using filters. They plan to start installing the devices next week.
TEPCO also plans to complete the construction of a giant polyester shield over the No.1 reactor by mid-October.
The operator also plans to improve its cooling systems so that the temperatures of all 3 reactors will drop below 100 degrees Celsius.
They say the amount of radioactive substances released from the plant was about 200-million becquerels per hour in the first half of September. They say that's about one-four millionths of the level of the initial stages of the accident in March.
Typhoon makes landfall in central Japan
Typhoon Roke has made landfall on the Pacific coast of central Japan.
Japan's Meteorological Agency says the typhoon landed near Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, at around 2:00 PM on Wednesday.
The storm is believed to be heading northeast at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour. It has an atmospheric pressure of 950 hecto-pascals and is packing winds of up to 160 kilometers per hour.
Wide areas of central Japan are now in the storm zone. Gusts of more than 125 kilometers per hour were observed in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, about half an hour before the typhoon made landfall.
Roke is bringing heavy rains to central, northern and eastern Japan. Between 1:00 and 2:00 PM, more than 54 millimeters of rain fell in Hamamatsu. Downpours have also been recorded in Yamanashi, Aichi and Kanagawa prefectures.
2011年9月20日火曜日
Hosono: Cooling down to be achieved this year
Japan's minister in charge of the nuclear disaster says reactors at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi plant will be cooled to below 100 degrees Celsius within this year.
Goshi Hosono spoke at the International Atomic Energy Agency's annual ministerial meeting on Monday.
He thanked the international community for assisting Japan in dealing with the accident at Fukushima.
Hosono said that decontaminated water has been successfully used to cool down the troubled nuclear reactors, bringing the temperature close to 100 degrees Celsius. He also said spent nuclear fuel pools have been cooled in a stable manner.
Hosono also said the spent nuclear fuel has been steadily cooled and will fall below 100 degrees by the end of this year, instead of early next year as initially predicted.
When the reactors and spent fuel have been cooled below 100 degrees, radiation emissions can be kept very low.
The minister also said Japan will work with the IAEA to remove radioactive materials from areas near Fukushima Daiichi.
He explained the plan to separate the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency from the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, saying it will be merged with the Cabinet Office's Nuclear Safety Commission to create a nuclear safety agency under the Environment Ministry by next April.
2011年9月19日月曜日
Cesium detected in 4% of tested rice
Radioactive tests on rice have been completed in more than half of the Tohoku and Kanto regions, and radioactive cesium has been detected in 4 percent of the samples. But the highest level detected so far is about a quarter of the government's safety limit.
Based on the interim results, shipments of rice have started in municipalities in 15 prefectures.
A preliminary examination is conducted while the rice is still growing and another test is carried out after the harvest. Rice can only be shipped if the amounts of cesium in the post-harvest test are below the government-set safety limit of 500 becquerels per kilogram in all the locations within a municipality.
Preliminary tests have been completed in 7 prefectures, but not in Fukushima or Miyagi.
Radioactive cesium has been detected in 72 places so far, including 64 locations in Fukushima Prefecture, where the Fukushima Daiichi power plant is located. But the highest level detected was 136 becquerels per kilogram, which is about a quarter of the government's safety limit.
The main test is being conducted in 17 prefectures, and has been completed in more than half of them. Radioactive materials were detected in rice harvested in 22 locations. But the highest level detected so far is 101.6 becquerels per kilogram, or one fifth of the government's safety limit.
With the preliminary and main tests combined, the results are known for more than 60 percent of the test locations. Radioactive materials have been detected in 94 locations, or 4.3 percent of the total.
Shipments of rice have started in municipalities in 15 prefectures, including all 52 municipalities in Chiba Prefecture.
In Fukushima Prefecture, shipments of ordinary rice have started in 2 municipalities, and those of early-harvested rice in 20 municipalities.
Muroto designated as UNESCO Geopark
Muroto City in Kochi Prefecture, western Japan, has become the 5th site in the country to be designated as an international geological heritage area, or Geopark.
UNESCO's Global Network of National Geoparks recognizes sites whose geology or landscape would help people understand the Earth's evolution and bring educational and economic benefits to the local community.
The entire city of Muroto on the island of Shikoku was added to the list of global Geoparks at the international organization's meeting in Norway on Saturday.
Mayor Kenji Komatsu and other delegates attending the meeting reported the news on the Internet to the city office, where about 160 residents and municipal officials were waiting. They greeted the city's certification with applause and cheers.
The area has traces of crustal movements dating back about 100 million years, allowing people to observe the former seabed elevated in past earthquakes.
Four sites previously listed as Geoparks include an area of Hokkaido's Lake Toya and nearly Mount Usu in northern Japan.
2011年9月12日月曜日
Radiation checks on wild plants, animals urged
A Japanese expert is urging detailed checks on wild plants and animals for radioactive contamination after the recent discovery of high levels of radioactivity in a kind of mushroom and a wild boar.
Following the Fukushima nuclear accident, the central government set safety limits on radioactive substances in food. As of Saturday it has screened nearly 20,000 food products. The number includes items analyzed by prefectural authorities.
In March and April, vegetables and raw milk were found to contain unsafe levels of radiation. But recently, radiation levels, if detected, have not exceeded the safety standards.
Meanwhile, on September 3rd, a species of mushroom found in a forest in Fukushima Prefecture was discovered to contain 28,000 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram, an amount far above the safety limit. A wild boar was also found to have radiation amounts about 6 times the safety limit.
Gakushuin University Professor Yasuyuki Muramatsu says radioactive cesium on soil and fallen leaves in forests is easily absorbed by mushrooms and edible plants. He says wild animals like boars accumulate high levels of radiation by eating contaminated mushrooms and plants.
The professor adds that detailed studies should be carried out on wild plants and animals to examine the impact of the nuclear accident on them as wild fauna and flora across Europe have been affected by radiation from the Chernobyl accident.
2011年8月29日月曜日
Rice shipments begin in Fukushima
Rice farmers in Fukushima Prefecture have begun shipping early-harvested rice after it cleared tests for possible radioactive contamination. Rice is Japan's staple food.
The first batch of newly harvested rice was loaded onto trucks at a farm in Koriyama City on Monday.
Earlier this month, Fukushima checked radiation levels of early-harvested varieties of rice at paddies of all rice growers in the prefecture. Test results confirmed the safety of all the checked rice, although a small amount of radioactive cesium was detected in rice grown at one location.
A farmer who shipped his rice on Monday said he feels relieved as he is able to offer safe rice to consumers.
But he said the early-harvested variety accounts for only 5 percent of his crop, so he is still worried if he can ship other varieties, including the mainstay Koshihikari brand.
The freshly harvested rice will be available in local super markets from Tuesday.
The first batch of newly harvested rice was loaded onto trucks at a farm in Koriyama City on Monday.
Earlier this month, Fukushima checked radiation levels of early-harvested varieties of rice at paddies of all rice growers in the prefecture. Test results confirmed the safety of all the checked rice, although a small amount of radioactive cesium was detected in rice grown at one location.
A farmer who shipped his rice on Monday said he feels relieved as he is able to offer safe rice to consumers.
But he said the early-harvested variety accounts for only 5 percent of his crop, so he is still worried if he can ship other varieties, including the mainstay Koshihikari brand.
The freshly harvested rice will be available in local super markets from Tuesday.
2011年8月17日水曜日
Kyoto Daimonji held with March 11 messages
An annual bonfire festival has been held in Kyoto with messages from survivors of the March 11 disaster inscribed on local firewood.
The city government originally planned to use the firewood from trees swept away by the March 11 tsunami. But the plan was cancelled after radioactive cesium was detected in wood sent from the hard-hit town of Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture.
Instead, event organizers used local wood and copied the survivors' eulogies or messages on them.
On Tuesday evening, the first fire was lit in the shape of the Chinese character "Dai", meaning large, followed by silent prayers for the disaster victims.
As Buddhist monks chanted sutras, four other fires were lit in a variety of shapes such as a boat and shrine gate, on the slopes of adjacent mountains.
The display illuminated the night sky above the ancient capital.
It is believed the bonfires help send off the souls of ancestors that have briefly returned home during the Buddhist Bon festival in mid-August.
The city government originally planned to use the firewood from trees swept away by the March 11 tsunami. But the plan was cancelled after radioactive cesium was detected in wood sent from the hard-hit town of Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture.
Instead, event organizers used local wood and copied the survivors' eulogies or messages on them.
On Tuesday evening, the first fire was lit in the shape of the Chinese character "Dai", meaning large, followed by silent prayers for the disaster victims.
As Buddhist monks chanted sutras, four other fires were lit in a variety of shapes such as a boat and shrine gate, on the slopes of adjacent mountains.
The display illuminated the night sky above the ancient capital.
It is believed the bonfires help send off the souls of ancestors that have briefly returned home during the Buddhist Bon festival in mid-August.
35 killed, 7,000 treated for heatstroke in a week
Last week was the most fatal week this year for heatstroke in Japan, with the deaths of 35 people.
The Fire and Disaster management Agency says the number of people hospitalized for heatstroke during the week through Sunday was 7,071 -- the largest number by the week for this year.
More than 1,000 people per day were treated at hospitals over 3 consecutive days through Thursday, as the mercury shot up to more than 35 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country. Wednesday was particularly severe, with the number reaching 1,428.
An NHK survey shows that at least 35 people died of heatstroke in 12 prefectures during the week through Sunday, marking the largest weekly death toll this year.
People aged 65 and older accounted for 77 percent of the deaths. More than 30 percent died between 5 PM and 5 AM.
Emergency officials say the number of heatstroke cases increased because temperatures remained over 25 degrees at night last week, in addition to the intense heat during the day.
They are calling for caution against heatstroke at all times, day or night, as the hot weather is expected to continue this week.
The Fire and Disaster management Agency says the number of people hospitalized for heatstroke during the week through Sunday was 7,071 -- the largest number by the week for this year.
More than 1,000 people per day were treated at hospitals over 3 consecutive days through Thursday, as the mercury shot up to more than 35 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country. Wednesday was particularly severe, with the number reaching 1,428.
An NHK survey shows that at least 35 people died of heatstroke in 12 prefectures during the week through Sunday, marking the largest weekly death toll this year.
People aged 65 and older accounted for 77 percent of the deaths. More than 30 percent died between 5 PM and 5 AM.
Emergency officials say the number of heatstroke cases increased because temperatures remained over 25 degrees at night last week, in addition to the intense heat during the day.
They are calling for caution against heatstroke at all times, day or night, as the hot weather is expected to continue this week.
2011年8月16日火曜日
Gov't to help quake survivors get licenses
Ministries and agencies that oversee occupational licenses have been asked to be flexible in helping survivors of the March disaster.
The Internal Affairs Ministry has received many complaints and inquiries from survivors about getting relief in applying for licenses.
The ministry conducted a survey of 73 licenses, which have more than 5,000 applicants annually.
The results showed that no measures have been taken for 26 licenses, including ones for administrative procedures specialist and tax accountant, such as postponing the application deadline or changing the exam date.
For 46 licenses, including for first-class architect and information processing technician, those who lost their certificates in the disaster had to pay fees to have them re-issued.
The 12 ministries and agencies in charge of licensing explained that there were no legal provisions and no such requests were made.
The Internal Affairs Ministry asked them to deal with the matter beyond the conventional framework.
It said it will make more requests if necessary based on the needs of the people in the disaster-affected area.
The Internal Affairs Ministry has received many complaints and inquiries from survivors about getting relief in applying for licenses.
The ministry conducted a survey of 73 licenses, which have more than 5,000 applicants annually.
The results showed that no measures have been taken for 26 licenses, including ones for administrative procedures specialist and tax accountant, such as postponing the application deadline or changing the exam date.
For 46 licenses, including for first-class architect and information processing technician, those who lost their certificates in the disaster had to pay fees to have them re-issued.
The 12 ministries and agencies in charge of licensing explained that there were no legal provisions and no such requests were made.
The Internal Affairs Ministry asked them to deal with the matter beyond the conventional framework.
It said it will make more requests if necessary based on the needs of the people in the disaster-affected area.
2011年8月14日日曜日
Gujo dance festival comes to a climax
A traditional summer dance festival has reached its climax in the city of Gujo in central Japan.
Thousands danced all through the hot summer night.
The Gujo Odori festival dates back about 400 years.
It is held every year from July to September in an old town in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture. The festival is designated as an "Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property" by the national government.
The highlight is 4 consecutive nights of all-night dancing, which began on Saturday.
68,000 locals and tourists, including foreigners, gathered for the festival. People wearing yukata, a cotton kimono, danced to the music of Japanese flutes and drums.
Organizers expect about 200-thousand people will come to the festival.
Thousands danced all through the hot summer night.
The Gujo Odori festival dates back about 400 years.
It is held every year from July to September in an old town in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture. The festival is designated as an "Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property" by the national government.
The highlight is 4 consecutive nights of all-night dancing, which began on Saturday.
68,000 locals and tourists, including foreigners, gathered for the festival. People wearing yukata, a cotton kimono, danced to the music of Japanese flutes and drums.
Organizers expect about 200-thousand people will come to the festival.
Sweltering Bon holidays in Japan
Measures are being taken across Japan during the ongoing Bon holidays to beat the sweltering summer heat.
In the hot spring city of Beppu, Oita Prefecture, western Japan, children climbed onto the floating leaves of a huge water lily on Saturday.
The Giant Amazon Water Lily is native to South America, but has also taken root in the hot spring resort, where its leaves grow as wide as 1.5 meters, enough to hold 20 kilograms.
Children were both excited and scared as they took turns trying to stand on the swaying leaves.
The 3-day event ends on Monday.
In the northern Hokkaido prefecture, the Hokkaido Railway Company turned on a water sprinkler for the first time this summer on Saturday.
A diesel locomotive pulled a 4-car train carrying water tanks to spray water onto the rails. The company takes the measure because 12 years ago the rails buckled in the summer heat.
Over the space of 4 hours, water was slowly sprinkled onto the tracks of the Hakodate line between Sapporo and Iwamizawa and elsewhere.
In the hot spring city of Beppu, Oita Prefecture, western Japan, children climbed onto the floating leaves of a huge water lily on Saturday.
The Giant Amazon Water Lily is native to South America, but has also taken root in the hot spring resort, where its leaves grow as wide as 1.5 meters, enough to hold 20 kilograms.
Children were both excited and scared as they took turns trying to stand on the swaying leaves.
The 3-day event ends on Monday.
In the northern Hokkaido prefecture, the Hokkaido Railway Company turned on a water sprinkler for the first time this summer on Saturday.
A diesel locomotive pulled a 4-car train carrying water tanks to spray water onto the rails. The company takes the measure because 12 years ago the rails buckled in the summer heat.
Over the space of 4 hours, water was slowly sprinkled onto the tracks of the Hakodate line between Sapporo and Iwamizawa and elsewhere.
2011年8月7日日曜日
Symbol of anti-airport movement in Narita removed
A building that was once a stronghold for opponents of Narita airport has been demolished, despite opposition from activists.
The building, located within Narita airport, near Tokyo, was a symbol of the movement that began in 1966 when the Japanese government decided to expropriate land from farmers to build the airport.
The airport's operator said the building was hampering the construction of a taxiway.
In May this year, the Tokyo High Court ruled in favor of the airport operator and ordered the removal of the structure.
The demolition work began early Saturday morning amid protests from activists.
A member of the group said it was regretful that the symbolic structure was demolished by force.
The president of Narita International Airport Corporation, Kosaburo Morinaka, said that the airport is the gateway to Japan and the company is determined to keep it operating smoothly.
The building, located within Narita airport, near Tokyo, was a symbol of the movement that began in 1966 when the Japanese government decided to expropriate land from farmers to build the airport.
The airport's operator said the building was hampering the construction of a taxiway.
In May this year, the Tokyo High Court ruled in favor of the airport operator and ordered the removal of the structure.
The demolition work began early Saturday morning amid protests from activists.
A member of the group said it was regretful that the symbolic structure was demolished by force.
The president of Narita International Airport Corporation, Kosaburo Morinaka, said that the airport is the gateway to Japan and the company is determined to keep it operating smoothly.
Todaiji Buddha undergoes annual dusting ritual
The Buddha statue at Todai-ji temple in the Japanese ancient capital of Nara has undergone a traditional dusting.
The ceremonial service is held every year ahead of the Bon Buddhist festival when people welcome back their ancestors' spirits later this month.
At 7 AM on Sunday, about 150 Buddhist priests and others gathered for a ceremonial chanting of sutra.
The priests then climbed onto the hands and knees of the statue and carefully removed dust with brooms and dusters.
Some workers were raised on hanging chairs to clean the 15-meter-tall statue's head and shoulders.
Visitors took photos and videos of the unusual scene, as dust filled the temple hall.
A man from Osaka says he can really appreciate the size of the Buddha when people climb onto it. He said he is glad that he had a chance to see it being cleaned.
The ceremonial service is held every year ahead of the Bon Buddhist festival when people welcome back their ancestors' spirits later this month.
At 7 AM on Sunday, about 150 Buddhist priests and others gathered for a ceremonial chanting of sutra.
The priests then climbed onto the hands and knees of the statue and carefully removed dust with brooms and dusters.
Some workers were raised on hanging chairs to clean the 15-meter-tall statue's head and shoulders.
Visitors took photos and videos of the unusual scene, as dust filled the temple hall.
A man from Osaka says he can really appreciate the size of the Buddha when people climb onto it. He said he is glad that he had a chance to see it being cleaned.
2011年7月31日日曜日
Torrential rain hits Niigata, Fukushima
Torrential rain has caused rivers to overflow in Niigata and Fukushima prefectures in northern Japan.
About 207,000 people in 15 municipalities of the 2 prefectures are taking shelter, as of 8 PM on Saturday, following authorities' evacuation orders or advisories.
At least 3,000 houses have been flooded in the prefectures.
In Niigata's Sanjo City, more than 10,000 people were ordered to evacuate after a dike collapsed.
2 men in Niigata Prefecture was found dead. 4 people are missing in the region.
NHK's aerial footage shows a destroyed bridge of East Japan Railway's Tadami Line, which connects Fukushima and Niigata prefectures. Only the bridge's columns can be seen in the overflowing river.
680 millimeters of rain has been recorded in Fukushima's Tadami Town in the 72 hours since Wednesday, while more than 620 millimeters fell on Kamo City, Niigata. Sanjo City in Niigata has gotten more than 1,000 millimeters.
These points have recorded more than double the amount of rain it gets in an average July in just 3 days.
The rain has been gradually easing, but some parts of northern Japan are still seeing showers.
The Meteorological Agency says the amount of rainfall in the 2 prefectures has exceeded a downpour 7 years ago that killed 16 people there.
About 207,000 people in 15 municipalities of the 2 prefectures are taking shelter, as of 8 PM on Saturday, following authorities' evacuation orders or advisories.
At least 3,000 houses have been flooded in the prefectures.
In Niigata's Sanjo City, more than 10,000 people were ordered to evacuate after a dike collapsed.
2 men in Niigata Prefecture was found dead. 4 people are missing in the region.
NHK's aerial footage shows a destroyed bridge of East Japan Railway's Tadami Line, which connects Fukushima and Niigata prefectures. Only the bridge's columns can be seen in the overflowing river.
680 millimeters of rain has been recorded in Fukushima's Tadami Town in the 72 hours since Wednesday, while more than 620 millimeters fell on Kamo City, Niigata. Sanjo City in Niigata has gotten more than 1,000 millimeters.
These points have recorded more than double the amount of rain it gets in an average July in just 3 days.
The rain has been gradually easing, but some parts of northern Japan are still seeing showers.
The Meteorological Agency says the amount of rainfall in the 2 prefectures has exceeded a downpour 7 years ago that killed 16 people there.
2011年7月19日火曜日
More beef cattle fed irradiated straw
Fukushima and Niigata prefectures have identified more farms that shipped beef cattle that had been fed straw containing radioactive cesium in amounts above the government standard.
Fukushima Prefecture says 7 farms in 6 municipalities fed their cattle straw left outdoors after the March nuclear accident in the prefecture. The straw was found to contain radioactive cesium in amounts up to 520 times the standard.
The farms shipped 411 head of cattle to meat-processing facilities in 5 prefectures including Tokyo from late March to early July.
Fukushima asked local authorities to trace the meat and carry out radiation checks if any was found.
The prefecture also asked all cattle farms in the prefecture to voluntarily refrain from shipping and transferring their stock for the time being.
In Niigata Prefecture, radioactive cesium levels as high as 15 times the government standard were detected in straw given to beef cattle at 2 farms. The straw was from Miyagi Prefecture, which neighbors Fukushima.
One of the farms has shipped 24 head of cattle.
Investigators have found that a total of 578 head of cattle have been shipped after being fed contaminated straw. The amount of contaminated meat found to have been distributed to markets across the country is expected to rise.
Fukushima Prefecture says 7 farms in 6 municipalities fed their cattle straw left outdoors after the March nuclear accident in the prefecture. The straw was found to contain radioactive cesium in amounts up to 520 times the standard.
The farms shipped 411 head of cattle to meat-processing facilities in 5 prefectures including Tokyo from late March to early July.
Fukushima asked local authorities to trace the meat and carry out radiation checks if any was found.
The prefecture also asked all cattle farms in the prefecture to voluntarily refrain from shipping and transferring their stock for the time being.
In Niigata Prefecture, radioactive cesium levels as high as 15 times the government standard were detected in straw given to beef cattle at 2 farms. The straw was from Miyagi Prefecture, which neighbors Fukushima.
One of the farms has shipped 24 head of cattle.
Investigators have found that a total of 578 head of cattle have been shipped after being fed contaminated straw. The amount of contaminated meat found to have been distributed to markets across the country is expected to rise.
Typhoon Ma-on brings heavy rain to Kochi
A large and strong typhoon is sweeping over the ocean off Shikoku in western Japan, bringing record rainfall to Kochi Prefecture.
The Meteorological Agency says typhoon Ma-on was 60 kilometers south of Kochi Prefecture and moving north at 20 kilometers per hour as of 11 AM on Tuesday.
Ma-on has a central atmospheric pressure of 960 hectopascals. Winds of up to 144 kilometers per hour are blowing near its center.
Developing rain clouds are likely to bring heavy rain to wide areas in western and eastern Japan.
Heavy rainfall of 54.5 millimeters per hour was recorded in Kochi, and 48 millimeters per hour in Mie Prefecture by 11 AM.
The typhoon is expected to approach eastern Japan later in the day, affecting the region with strong winds and rain for a long time.
Thunderstorms and torrential rainfall of 50 to 70 millimeters per hour are expected in wide areas from Shikoku through Kanto-Koshinetsu region on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The agency warns that 80 millimeters per hour could be recorded in some parts of the Shikoku, Kinki and Tokai regions.
The Meteorological Agency says typhoon Ma-on was 60 kilometers south of Kochi Prefecture and moving north at 20 kilometers per hour as of 11 AM on Tuesday.
Ma-on has a central atmospheric pressure of 960 hectopascals. Winds of up to 144 kilometers per hour are blowing near its center.
Developing rain clouds are likely to bring heavy rain to wide areas in western and eastern Japan.
Heavy rainfall of 54.5 millimeters per hour was recorded in Kochi, and 48 millimeters per hour in Mie Prefecture by 11 AM.
The typhoon is expected to approach eastern Japan later in the day, affecting the region with strong winds and rain for a long time.
Thunderstorms and torrential rainfall of 50 to 70 millimeters per hour are expected in wide areas from Shikoku through Kanto-Koshinetsu region on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The agency warns that 80 millimeters per hour could be recorded in some parts of the Shikoku, Kinki and Tokai regions.
2011年7月16日土曜日
Ideas for beating summer heat in Tokyo
Tokyo residents from overseas are devising ways to beat the sweltering summer heat while coping with post-March 11th electricity power-saving.
Foreign embassies are not required to restrict their use of electricity, but the Danish Embassy in Shibuya Ward keeps its air conditioning at 28 degrees Celsius and uses Japanese-style marsh-reed sunshades called yoshizu.
Also, staff members wear T-shirts and short pants on designated "Super Cool Fridays."
Ambassador Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin cites a Danish proverb saying there is no bad weather, only bad clothing. He says Danish people are very aware of the energy issue, as individual power-saving efforts have been emphasized in the country.
At an Indian restaurant in Edogawa Ward, the air conditioning is set 3 degrees higher than usual.
The restaurant is offering salted lassi, an Indian yogurt drink, on its menu this summer. Owner Jagmohan Chandrani says it's a good way to replace salt lost in sweat on hot days.
Foreign embassies are not required to restrict their use of electricity, but the Danish Embassy in Shibuya Ward keeps its air conditioning at 28 degrees Celsius and uses Japanese-style marsh-reed sunshades called yoshizu.
Also, staff members wear T-shirts and short pants on designated "Super Cool Fridays."
Ambassador Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin cites a Danish proverb saying there is no bad weather, only bad clothing. He says Danish people are very aware of the energy issue, as individual power-saving efforts have been emphasized in the country.
At an Indian restaurant in Edogawa Ward, the air conditioning is set 3 degrees higher than usual.
The restaurant is offering salted lassi, an Indian yogurt drink, on its menu this summer. Owner Jagmohan Chandrani says it's a good way to replace salt lost in sweat on hot days.
2011年7月10日日曜日
Regular sumo tournament is back
A regular grand sumo tournament is being held for the first time in 6 months following a match-fixing scandal.
The Japan Sumo Association cancelled the March tournament and punished 25 wrestlers and stable masters for involvement in the scandal. In May, the association held a free tournament to assess wrestlers' skills instead of a regular competition.
The association decided to hold the July tournament on the grounds that conditions have been satisfied for resuming tournaments.
On Sunday, the venue of the July tournament in Nagoya, central Japan, is surrounded with colorful banners carrying wrestlers' names.
About 100 people lined up for tickets, but the sumo association says the number is less than half that for the first day of usual tournaments.
A fan says he hopes that all wrestlers show how serious they are in the ring, because the scandal has not yet been resolved completely. Another fan says she is happy that the atmosphere of a grand sumo tournament is back.
The Japan Sumo Association cancelled the March tournament and punished 25 wrestlers and stable masters for involvement in the scandal. In May, the association held a free tournament to assess wrestlers' skills instead of a regular competition.
The association decided to hold the July tournament on the grounds that conditions have been satisfied for resuming tournaments.
On Sunday, the venue of the July tournament in Nagoya, central Japan, is surrounded with colorful banners carrying wrestlers' names.
About 100 people lined up for tickets, but the sumo association says the number is less than half that for the first day of usual tournaments.
A fan says he hopes that all wrestlers show how serious they are in the ring, because the scandal has not yet been resolved completely. Another fan says she is happy that the atmosphere of a grand sumo tournament is back.
Tokyo traces cows from contaminated farm
The Tokyo Metropolitan government has begun tracing beef from 6 cows shipped from a Fukushima farm where 11 other cows were found contaminated with high levels of radioactive cesium.
On Friday, tests detected 1,530 to 3,200 becquerels per kilogram of cesium in beef from the 11 cows raised in Minami Soma city, about 20 kilometers from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The national safety limit is 500 becquerels. Tokyo ordered the beef to be removed from distribution.
But beef from 6 cows shipped from the farm to
Tokyo and Tochigi in May and June are believed to have already made it to market without radiation testing. Tests were supposed to have been conducted at the production site.
Tokyo plans to collect the beef for examination, if it can locate it along the distribution routes.
The Tokyo Metropolitan government is calling for tests to be conducted at production sites. Tokyo says it's difficult to check all the cows shipped to the city.
Sunday, July 10, 2011 07:3
On Friday, tests detected 1,530 to 3,200 becquerels per kilogram of cesium in beef from the 11 cows raised in Minami Soma city, about 20 kilometers from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The national safety limit is 500 becquerels. Tokyo ordered the beef to be removed from distribution.
But beef from 6 cows shipped from the farm to
Tokyo and Tochigi in May and June are believed to have already made it to market without radiation testing. Tests were supposed to have been conducted at the production site.
Tokyo plans to collect the beef for examination, if it can locate it along the distribution routes.
The Tokyo Metropolitan government is calling for tests to be conducted at production sites. Tokyo says it's difficult to check all the cows shipped to the city.
Sunday, July 10, 2011 07:3
2011年7月2日土曜日
Hitachi starts power-saving shift
Leading Japanese electronics maker Hitachi has started shifting some of its operations to weekends to cope with expected power shortages.
The firm is closing its group factories in eastern Japan on Thursdays and Fridays, to operate them on weekends from July to September.
The shift is part of efforts called for by the government to cope with possible power shortages due to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and the closure of many reactors of other plants for safety inspections.
The government has asked large-lot users in eastern Japan to cut their power consumption by 15 percent during the summer. Violators could face fines.
On Friday, one of the firm's plants in Hitachi City, north of Tokyo, that produces turbines for thermal power stations and has about 7,000 employees was quiet, with closed gates and shutters.
Hitachi says it's taking other power-saving measures such as covering walls of its office buildings with leafy plants to block sunlight.
The firm is closing its group factories in eastern Japan on Thursdays and Fridays, to operate them on weekends from July to September.
The shift is part of efforts called for by the government to cope with possible power shortages due to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and the closure of many reactors of other plants for safety inspections.
The government has asked large-lot users in eastern Japan to cut their power consumption by 15 percent during the summer. Violators could face fines.
On Friday, one of the firm's plants in Hitachi City, north of Tokyo, that produces turbines for thermal power stations and has about 7,000 employees was quiet, with closed gates and shutters.
Hitachi says it's taking other power-saving measures such as covering walls of its office buildings with leafy plants to block sunlight.
Panel mulls damages for internal exposure
A government panel is discussing whether to compensate people suffering internal exposure to radiation from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
At a meeting on Friday, panel leader Yoshihisa Noumi said discussions should be made on whether to recognize such people or those exposed to radiation but yet to develop health problems as suffering mental distress.
Some panel members said people who have been exposed to radiation can be recognized as suffering mental distress.
Others said that in cases of no health damage, compensation should not be paid.
The panel decided to continue discussions, saying it is difficult to determine which radiation levels will be covered by compensation.
The members also discussed whether to compensate for damage caused by import bans on Japanese goods by foreign governments and a decrease in tourism to Japan.
The panel is expected to continue discussions to wrap up its interim guidelines in late July.
The panel had already decided to compensate people who were forced to evacuate by government order after the nuclear plant accident for mental suffering.
At a meeting on Friday, panel leader Yoshihisa Noumi said discussions should be made on whether to recognize such people or those exposed to radiation but yet to develop health problems as suffering mental distress.
Some panel members said people who have been exposed to radiation can be recognized as suffering mental distress.
Others said that in cases of no health damage, compensation should not be paid.
The panel decided to continue discussions, saying it is difficult to determine which radiation levels will be covered by compensation.
The members also discussed whether to compensate for damage caused by import bans on Japanese goods by foreign governments and a decrease in tourism to Japan.
The panel is expected to continue discussions to wrap up its interim guidelines in late July.
The panel had already decided to compensate people who were forced to evacuate by government order after the nuclear plant accident for mental suffering.
2011年6月24日金曜日
Parents concerned about children's radiation
Parents and teachers in Fukushima Prefecture are skeptical about the government-set level of exposure to radiation for children, especially in relation to outdoor activities. They fear children's health may be affected by radioactive contamination from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The education ministry released a report to the Nuclear Safety Commission on Thursday concerning school yards at 55 locations where high levels of radiation had been detected. It also reported that after the top soil was removed at 41 locations, the radiation level dropped to 0.5 microsieverts per hour on average.
The report also said that all locations had radiation levels under the government-set 3.8 microsieverts per hour. The ministry has said that schools where this level is met can restart children's outdoor activities.
But many parents and teachers in the prefecture are skeptical about the standard set by the ministry.
They say exposure of 3.8 microsieverts per hour is too high compared to the long-term reference level recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.
All schools continue to refrain from outdoor activities or limit them to 1 to 3 hours per day.
The Nuclear Safety Commission member Seiji Shiroya says the standard should not be set unilaterally and that it should be established at a level all, including the parents, can accept.
The education ministry released a report to the Nuclear Safety Commission on Thursday concerning school yards at 55 locations where high levels of radiation had been detected. It also reported that after the top soil was removed at 41 locations, the radiation level dropped to 0.5 microsieverts per hour on average.
The report also said that all locations had radiation levels under the government-set 3.8 microsieverts per hour. The ministry has said that schools where this level is met can restart children's outdoor activities.
But many parents and teachers in the prefecture are skeptical about the standard set by the ministry.
They say exposure of 3.8 microsieverts per hour is too high compared to the long-term reference level recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.
All schools continue to refrain from outdoor activities or limit them to 1 to 3 hours per day.
The Nuclear Safety Commission member Seiji Shiroya says the standard should not be set unilaterally and that it should be established at a level all, including the parents, can accept.
2011年6月23日木曜日
Okinawa marks 66th anniversary of fierce battle
Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa is observing on Thursday the 66th anniversary of the end of fierce battles in the final days of World War Two.
About 5,000 people, including relatives of war dead, attended a ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, where the last of the major fighting took place.
The participants observed a minute of silence for the souls of the dead. More than 200,000 people, including one in every 4 Okinawa residents, were killed in the Battle of Okinawa between the now-defunct Japanese Imperial Army and US forces.
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima said in his peace declaration that the people of Okinawa continue to bear an excessive burden in hosting US bases, troubled by base-related crimes, accidents and noise.
Nakaima said he will continue pressing the governments of Japan and the US to quickly move the US Marine Corps Futenma air station outside Okinawa. He said he will also urge them to drastically revise the bilateral agreement on the status of US forces in Japan.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said it is truly shameful that Okinawa has yet to be relieved of the burden imposed by the US bases even 39 years after its reversion to Japan. He promised that the central government will do all it can to reduce the burden and danger from the bases.
Ahead of the ceremony, Kan offered flowers at a national cemetery in Itoman for those killed in the Okinawa battle.
About 1,200 people paraded the streets for about 8.5 kilometers to the memorial park in the 50th annual peace march.
About 5,000 people, including relatives of war dead, attended a ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, where the last of the major fighting took place.
The participants observed a minute of silence for the souls of the dead. More than 200,000 people, including one in every 4 Okinawa residents, were killed in the Battle of Okinawa between the now-defunct Japanese Imperial Army and US forces.
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima said in his peace declaration that the people of Okinawa continue to bear an excessive burden in hosting US bases, troubled by base-related crimes, accidents and noise.
Nakaima said he will continue pressing the governments of Japan and the US to quickly move the US Marine Corps Futenma air station outside Okinawa. He said he will also urge them to drastically revise the bilateral agreement on the status of US forces in Japan.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said it is truly shameful that Okinawa has yet to be relieved of the burden imposed by the US bases even 39 years after its reversion to Japan. He promised that the central government will do all it can to reduce the burden and danger from the bases.
Ahead of the ceremony, Kan offered flowers at a national cemetery in Itoman for those killed in the Okinawa battle.
About 1,200 people paraded the streets for about 8.5 kilometers to the memorial park in the 50th annual peace march.
2011年6月15日水曜日
Tokyo to measure radiation at 100 locations
The Tokyo metropolitan government has begun measuring radiation levels at 100 locations, to provide accurate information in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident.
The action comes after some individuals and municipalities found higher local radiation levels than those released by the metropolitan government.
The metropolitan government currently measures radiation levels at a 19-meter high monitoring post on the roof of a building in Shinjuku ward, central Tokyo, and releases the data to the public.
But it decided to make a more detailed assessment of radioactivity across Tokyo, by taking measurements near the ground.
On the first day of the survey on Wednesday, officials measured radiation levels at a park in Toshima ward.
The measurements were made at 5 centimeters and one meter above the ground, and the readings were 0.07 and 0.06 microsieverts per hour respectively. The figures were about the same level as the readings at the monitoring post in Shinjuku.
The Tokyo metropolitan government plans to finish measurements at 100 locations in about a week, and post the data on its website.
From next Monday it will also lend radioactivity counters to wards and cities across Tokyo.
The action comes after some individuals and municipalities found higher local radiation levels than those released by the metropolitan government.
The metropolitan government currently measures radiation levels at a 19-meter high monitoring post on the roof of a building in Shinjuku ward, central Tokyo, and releases the data to the public.
But it decided to make a more detailed assessment of radioactivity across Tokyo, by taking measurements near the ground.
On the first day of the survey on Wednesday, officials measured radiation levels at a park in Toshima ward.
The measurements were made at 5 centimeters and one meter above the ground, and the readings were 0.07 and 0.06 microsieverts per hour respectively. The figures were about the same level as the readings at the monitoring post in Shinjuku.
The Tokyo metropolitan government plans to finish measurements at 100 locations in about a week, and post the data on its website.
From next Monday it will also lend radioactivity counters to wards and cities across Tokyo.
TEPCO begins covering work for reactors
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has begun constructing giant frames to hold plastic sheets for covering the plant's damaged reactor buildings in an effort to prevent the spread of radiation.
The buildings of the No. 1, 3, and 4 reactors were severely damaged by explosions after an earthquake and tsunami hit the plant on March 11th. Radiation is still being released into the atmosphere.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, on Monday started assembling the first frame at a port some 50 kilometers away from the power plant. The frame will support a huge polyester cover for the No.1 reactor building.
TEPCO is prefabricating the frame to hold a sheet measuring more than 40 meters long, 40 meters wide, and 50 meters high. The goal is to minimize workers' exposure to radiation.
At Onahama port, workers were busy assembling the steel frame from gigantic pillars and beams with a 140-meter-tall crane.
TEPCO hopes to ship the frame to the plant by late July. It plans to assemble the same covering for the damaged No. 3 and 4 reactor buildings.
The buildings of the No. 1, 3, and 4 reactors were severely damaged by explosions after an earthquake and tsunami hit the plant on March 11th. Radiation is still being released into the atmosphere.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, on Monday started assembling the first frame at a port some 50 kilometers away from the power plant. The frame will support a huge polyester cover for the No.1 reactor building.
TEPCO is prefabricating the frame to hold a sheet measuring more than 40 meters long, 40 meters wide, and 50 meters high. The goal is to minimize workers' exposure to radiation.
At Onahama port, workers were busy assembling the steel frame from gigantic pillars and beams with a 140-meter-tall crane.
TEPCO hopes to ship the frame to the plant by late July. It plans to assemble the same covering for the damaged No. 3 and 4 reactor buildings.
2011年6月9日木曜日
Efforts to delay radioactive water leaks
Tokyo Electric Power Company continues to struggle to prevent possible leaks of highly-radioactive water that is accumulating at its troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
TEPCO plans to move an additional 2,700 tons of highly-contaminated water from the reactor buildings to an adjacent waste processing facility.
The move is an attempt to postpone by 5 days water overflowing from a tunnel outside Reactor 2. This could occur on June 20th if a new water-decontaminating system is not installed and in operation by next Wednesday.
The utility says it has already obtained the consent of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency for the plan.
The Agency says the measure is appropriate since there is no risk of the water leaking outside the waste facility.
More than 105,000 tons of highly radioactive water is believed to have accumulated in the reactor and turbine buildings.
The company says the amount is increasing by more than 500 tons daily as fresh water continues to be injected into the reactors in an attempt to lower their temperatures.
The utility says 14,200 tons of contaminated water will be stored 1.4 meters deep in the basement of the facility. After being decontaminated, the operator plans to use the water in the reactors as a coolant.
The company says it is determined to begin operating the water-decontaminating system by June 25th at the latest.
TEPCO plans to move an additional 2,700 tons of highly-contaminated water from the reactor buildings to an adjacent waste processing facility.
The move is an attempt to postpone by 5 days water overflowing from a tunnel outside Reactor 2. This could occur on June 20th if a new water-decontaminating system is not installed and in operation by next Wednesday.
The utility says it has already obtained the consent of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency for the plan.
The Agency says the measure is appropriate since there is no risk of the water leaking outside the waste facility.
More than 105,000 tons of highly radioactive water is believed to have accumulated in the reactor and turbine buildings.
The company says the amount is increasing by more than 500 tons daily as fresh water continues to be injected into the reactors in an attempt to lower their temperatures.
The utility says 14,200 tons of contaminated water will be stored 1.4 meters deep in the basement of the facility. After being decontaminated, the operator plans to use the water in the reactors as a coolant.
The company says it is determined to begin operating the water-decontaminating system by June 25th at the latest.
Survey: strontium widespread in Fukushima
Soil samples from around Fukushima Prefecture have revealed concentrations of radioactive strontium.
Japan's science ministry conducted a survey for radioactive substances at 11 locations in 10 municipalities from late March to mid-May.
It says strontium-90 was detected in all 11 locations.
In Namie Town, the reading stood at 250 becquerels per kilogram of soil, while in Iitate Village the reading was 120 becquerels per kilogram. The readings in the other locations were between 2 and 18 becquerels.
Strontium-90 is generated during the fission of uranium in fuel rods in reactors.
With a comparatively long half-life of 29 years, the radioactive substance poses a risk of accumulating in the bones if inhaled, because its properties are similar to those of calcium. If this happens, it could cause cancer.
The ministry says the survey revealed that strontium was detected even in the city of Fukushima about 60 kilometers from the plant, suggesting wide-spread contamination.
It says higher doses of strontium were spread northwestward from the plant, along with other radioactive substances, because of the prevailing winds.
The Nuclear Safety Commission says the detected doses of strontium were minimal, compared with those of cesium found in the region. It says the substance does not pose any immediate health threat.
Doctor Osamu Saito is a radiation expert at a hospital in Fukushima City. He says even though only small quantities of strontium-90 were detected in the survey, it still poses a high health risk because it can accumulate in the bones.
He is urging the government to increase the number of observation points throughout the prefecture, so as to help ease public anxiety.
The ministry says it is considering taking samples from additional locations in the next survey.
Japan's science ministry conducted a survey for radioactive substances at 11 locations in 10 municipalities from late March to mid-May.
It says strontium-90 was detected in all 11 locations.
In Namie Town, the reading stood at 250 becquerels per kilogram of soil, while in Iitate Village the reading was 120 becquerels per kilogram. The readings in the other locations were between 2 and 18 becquerels.
Strontium-90 is generated during the fission of uranium in fuel rods in reactors.
With a comparatively long half-life of 29 years, the radioactive substance poses a risk of accumulating in the bones if inhaled, because its properties are similar to those of calcium. If this happens, it could cause cancer.
The ministry says the survey revealed that strontium was detected even in the city of Fukushima about 60 kilometers from the plant, suggesting wide-spread contamination.
It says higher doses of strontium were spread northwestward from the plant, along with other radioactive substances, because of the prevailing winds.
The Nuclear Safety Commission says the detected doses of strontium were minimal, compared with those of cesium found in the region. It says the substance does not pose any immediate health threat.
Doctor Osamu Saito is a radiation expert at a hospital in Fukushima City. He says even though only small quantities of strontium-90 were detected in the survey, it still poses a high health risk because it can accumulate in the bones.
He is urging the government to increase the number of observation points throughout the prefecture, so as to help ease public anxiety.
The ministry says it is considering taking samples from additional locations in the next survey.
2011年6月8日水曜日
Okamis promote trips in Japan
A group of Japanese female innkeepers have appealed for people to make more trips around the country to increase the number of guests at inns and hotels.
The female innkeepers, or okamis, from 38 prefectures attended a promotional event at Shinagawa Station in Tokyo on Tuesday. The event was organized by an association of hotels and Japanese style inns in the country.
The okamis, wearing traditional happi costumes, handed out round fans to passersby and called on them to make sightseeing trips during the summer holidays.
The association says the number of overnight guests has decreased by about 20 percent from a year earlier, after the March 11th disaster. It also says some inn owners have been forced to close their businesses.
An okami from quake-hit Miyako City in Iwate Prefecture said her inn was flooded in the tsunami but that she was able to resume business in April. She said an increase in the number of travelers will help rebuild the affected areas.
Another, from Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture, said guest traffic has decreased in the wake of the nuclear accident in neighboring Fukushima Prefecture. She said that although her inn is open for business, there have been few guests so far this season.
The female innkeepers, or okamis, from 38 prefectures attended a promotional event at Shinagawa Station in Tokyo on Tuesday. The event was organized by an association of hotels and Japanese style inns in the country.
The okamis, wearing traditional happi costumes, handed out round fans to passersby and called on them to make sightseeing trips during the summer holidays.
The association says the number of overnight guests has decreased by about 20 percent from a year earlier, after the March 11th disaster. It also says some inn owners have been forced to close their businesses.
An okami from quake-hit Miyako City in Iwate Prefecture said her inn was flooded in the tsunami but that she was able to resume business in April. She said an increase in the number of travelers will help rebuild the affected areas.
Another, from Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture, said guest traffic has decreased in the wake of the nuclear accident in neighboring Fukushima Prefecture. She said that although her inn is open for business, there have been few guests so far this season.
Suicides top 3,000 in May
More than 3,200 people killed themselves in Japan last month, exceeding the 3,000 mark for the first time in 2 years.
The National Police Agency says the number of suicides totaled 3,281 in May, up 499, or 18 percent, from a year earlier.
By prefecture, Tokyo topped the list with 325 suicides, followed by 210 in Kanagawa and 206 in Osaka.
In areas hit by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, Fukushima saw an increase of 19 suicides to 68. The figure for Miyagi was unchanged at 50 while Iwate saw a decline of 3 to 32.
Until March, suicides had been on the decline since last year. The government had stepped up prevention measures, including opening numerous counseling counters.
After the disaster in March, however, the figure increased for the next 2 months.
The police agency says it does not know whether the disaster is related to the increase. It says it will make detailed analyses of individual cases in cooperation with the Cabinet Office and other ministries.
The National Police Agency says the number of suicides totaled 3,281 in May, up 499, or 18 percent, from a year earlier.
By prefecture, Tokyo topped the list with 325 suicides, followed by 210 in Kanagawa and 206 in Osaka.
In areas hit by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, Fukushima saw an increase of 19 suicides to 68. The figure for Miyagi was unchanged at 50 while Iwate saw a decline of 3 to 32.
Until March, suicides had been on the decline since last year. The government had stepped up prevention measures, including opening numerous counseling counters.
After the disaster in March, however, the figure increased for the next 2 months.
The police agency says it does not know whether the disaster is related to the increase. It says it will make detailed analyses of individual cases in cooperation with the Cabinet Office and other ministries.
2011年5月31日火曜日
Rain increases radioactive water at nuke plant
Heavy rain has increased the volume of highly radioactive water building up inside the disaster-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Contaminated water already floods the basements of the turbine and reactor buildings, partly due to water injections to cool down the reactor cores.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, now says water levels rose faster on Monday as rain poured inside the badly damaged buildings.
In the basement of the No.1 reactor building, radioactive water rose by 37.6 centimeters during the 24 hours through Tuesday morning.
At the No.2 reactor, the level of water rose by 8.6 centimeters in an underground tunnel extending from the building.
The water in the tunnel's shaft is now only about 39 centimeters below ground level. The utility is speeding up work to seal the opening.
TEPCO is planning to decontaminate and recycle the radioactive water as coolant for the reactors. But the system won't be in place until July at the earliest.
In the meantime, the utility is studying steps to prevent rainwater from seeping in. It will also consider new storage sites to which the contaminated water can be quickly transferred as the rainy season approaches.
Contaminated water already floods the basements of the turbine and reactor buildings, partly due to water injections to cool down the reactor cores.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, now says water levels rose faster on Monday as rain poured inside the badly damaged buildings.
In the basement of the No.1 reactor building, radioactive water rose by 37.6 centimeters during the 24 hours through Tuesday morning.
At the No.2 reactor, the level of water rose by 8.6 centimeters in an underground tunnel extending from the building.
The water in the tunnel's shaft is now only about 39 centimeters below ground level. The utility is speeding up work to seal the opening.
TEPCO is planning to decontaminate and recycle the radioactive water as coolant for the reactors. But the system won't be in place until July at the earliest.
In the meantime, the utility is studying steps to prevent rainwater from seeping in. It will also consider new storage sites to which the contaminated water can be quickly transferred as the rainy season approaches.
2011年5月25日水曜日
2,500-year-old beetle fossil found in Nara
Japanese archaeologists have discovered the nearly perfectly preserved remains of a stag beetle, estimated to be over 2,500 years old.
The 6-centimeter body fossil was found in soil around a tree root that had been unearthed at an archaeological site in the city of Gose, Nara Prefecture. The tree root is believed to be between 2,500 and 2,800 years old.
Hard-bodied insect fossils are rarely found intact, because membranes connecting the head and legs to the body tend to decompose.
Yasuhiro Nakatani of the Kashihara City Museum of Insects says the fossil shows that this type of stag beetle hasn't changed in shape for thousands of years.
He says genetic analysis of the remains could provide clues to the natural environment back then.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 15:57
The 6-centimeter body fossil was found in soil around a tree root that had been unearthed at an archaeological site in the city of Gose, Nara Prefecture. The tree root is believed to be between 2,500 and 2,800 years old.
Hard-bodied insect fossils are rarely found intact, because membranes connecting the head and legs to the body tend to decompose.
Yasuhiro Nakatani of the Kashihara City Museum of Insects says the fossil shows that this type of stag beetle hasn't changed in shape for thousands of years.
He says genetic analysis of the remains could provide clues to the natural environment back then.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 15:57
TV animation song most played in Japan in FY 2010
The song of a popular TV animation series aired 16 years ago has topped the list of the most played tunes in Japan in the last business year through March 2011.
The Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers, JASRAC, says the theme song of Neon Genesis Evangelion -- A Cruel Angel's Thesis -- earned the largest copyright royalties, by being sung at karaoke or played elsewhere.
JASRAC says it is the first time a song from an animated film has received the largest copyright fees.
The 1995 song, which has been popular among karaoke-goers since, made its
The Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers, JASRAC, says the theme song of Neon Genesis Evangelion -- A Cruel Angel's Thesis -- earned the largest copyright royalties, by being sung at karaoke or played elsewhere.
JASRAC says it is the first time a song from an animated film has received the largest copyright fees.
The 1995 song, which has been popular among karaoke-goers since, made its
2011年5月24日火曜日
Parents demand lower radiation limit for children
A group of parents of school children is calling for lowering the government-set radiation limit for children.
The group is from Fukushima Prefecture, where a crippled nuclear power plant is posing the danger of nuclear contamination.
On Monday, members of the group visited the education ministry and submitted a petition bearing more than 15,000 signatures.
After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident, the government set the yearly limit for accumulated external radiation for children undertaking outdoor activities at 20 millisieverts.
The parents have been pointing out that the government safety level is too high for children and are demanding that it be lowered to 1 millisievert per year.
One millisievert per year is the level recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection as a long-term annual reference level for humans.
The parents say the government should take as many measures as possible to reduce children's radiation exposure, such as removing contaminated topsoil from schoolyards.
A ministry official admitted that the 20-millisievert yearly level is not necessarily an appropriate limit for children. The official told the group that the ministry wants to consider all possible measures to reduce radiation risk
The group is from Fukushima Prefecture, where a crippled nuclear power plant is posing the danger of nuclear contamination.
On Monday, members of the group visited the education ministry and submitted a petition bearing more than 15,000 signatures.
After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident, the government set the yearly limit for accumulated external radiation for children undertaking outdoor activities at 20 millisieverts.
The parents have been pointing out that the government safety level is too high for children and are demanding that it be lowered to 1 millisievert per year.
One millisievert per year is the level recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection as a long-term annual reference level for humans.
The parents say the government should take as many measures as possible to reduce children's radiation exposure, such as removing contaminated topsoil from schoolyards.
A ministry official admitted that the 20-millisievert yearly level is not necessarily an appropriate limit for children. The official told the group that the ministry wants to consider all possible measures to reduce radiation risk
2011年5月23日月曜日
Crane dismantling on Tokyo Sky Tree begins
Work began on Monday to dismantle the giant cranes used for the construction of the Tokyo Sky Tree broadcasting tower.
The top of the tower reached 634 meters above the ground in March. It is the tallest broadcasting tower in the world.
On Monday, work to take down 4 giant cranes from the roof of a 375-meter-high observation deck began. The cranes had been used to lift materials for building higher parts of the tower.
Steel frames that held the props of the cranes to the tower structure were removed on Monday morning. The props will be dismantled next, before the cranes themselves are disassembled one by one.
A chief engineer of the tower's builder, Obayashi Corporation, said the dismantling of the cranes means that construction work is almost done. He said he feels both joy and a sense of loss.
The cranes will be removed by the middle of July.
The tower is scheduled to begin operating in the spring of next year.
Monday, May 23, 2011 13:25 +0900 (JST)
The top of the tower reached 634 meters above the ground in March. It is the tallest broadcasting tower in the world.
On Monday, work to take down 4 giant cranes from the roof of a 375-meter-high observation deck began. The cranes had been used to lift materials for building higher parts of the tower.
Steel frames that held the props of the cranes to the tower structure were removed on Monday morning. The props will be dismantled next, before the cranes themselves are disassembled one by one.
A chief engineer of the tower's builder, Obayashi Corporation, said the dismantling of the cranes means that construction work is almost done. He said he feels both joy and a sense of loss.
The cranes will be removed by the middle of July.
The tower is scheduled to begin operating in the spring of next year.
Monday, May 23, 2011 13:25 +0900 (JST)
Many residents still remain in Iitate, Kawamata
About half the residents living in parts of Fukushima Prefecture where an evacuation order is in place have still not left one week before the government-set deadline runs out.
On April 22nd, the government ordered people in Iitate Village and a part of Kawamata Town to leave by the end of this month because of radiation exposure from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Officials have been placing priority on evacuating households with infants and small children.
But only about half of the 7,800 residents have followed the order one month after it was issued.
Some residents remaining in the areas say emergency shelters are far from their work places and their children's schools. Others say they will lose their jobs if they move away.
People in areas with relatively low levels of radiation hope to delay their evacuation until temporary housing is completed in the summer.
The officials say they will continue to urge the remaining residents to leave. But meeting the deadline will be difficult, as the evacuation order is not legally binding.
The 2 communities are located outside the 20 kilometer radius around the crippled nuclear plant. The central
government earlier instructed residents living inside the 20 kilometer zone to evacuate.
Monday, May 2
On April 22nd, the government ordered people in Iitate Village and a part of Kawamata Town to leave by the end of this month because of radiation exposure from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Officials have been placing priority on evacuating households with infants and small children.
But only about half of the 7,800 residents have followed the order one month after it was issued.
Some residents remaining in the areas say emergency shelters are far from their work places and their children's schools. Others say they will lose their jobs if they move away.
People in areas with relatively low levels of radiation hope to delay their evacuation until temporary housing is completed in the summer.
The officials say they will continue to urge the remaining residents to leave. But meeting the deadline will be difficult, as the evacuation order is not legally binding.
The 2 communities are located outside the 20 kilometer radius around the crippled nuclear plant. The central
government earlier instructed residents living inside the 20 kilometer zone to evacuate.
Monday, May 2
2011年5月11日水曜日
Survivors' lives two months on
Survivors of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan say they still face difficulties in their daily lives 2 months on.
NHK surveyed 435 people living in evacuation centers and elsewhere in the hardest-hit prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima.
More than 450,000 people were living in shelters just after the quake, but the number has now dropped to about 120,000. Many evacuees left the shelters saying they were tired of living in groups. Some facilities were closed or merged.
Asked what bothered them the most, 38 percent of those in the shelters cited a lack of privacy.
32 percent of the people living in their homes cited not being able to bathe and a lack of utilities as their main concern.
34 percent of those staying with relatives or living in apartments said the lack of access to information, including notices from their municipalities, is a problem.
One woman in Rikuzentakata city, Iwate Prefecture, said she is living at home because her father refused to stay in a shelter. She said the water and electricity are still off and that she can only bathe once every 4 or 5 days at facilities provided by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
NHK surveyed 435 people living in evacuation centers and elsewhere in the hardest-hit prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima.
More than 450,000 people were living in shelters just after the quake, but the number has now dropped to about 120,000. Many evacuees left the shelters saying they were tired of living in groups. Some facilities were closed or merged.
Asked what bothered them the most, 38 percent of those in the shelters cited a lack of privacy.
32 percent of the people living in their homes cited not being able to bathe and a lack of utilities as their main concern.
34 percent of those staying with relatives or living in apartments said the lack of access to information, including notices from their municipalities, is a problem.
One woman in Rikuzentakata city, Iwate Prefecture, said she is living at home because her father refused to stay in a shelter. She said the water and electricity are still off and that she can only bathe once every 4 or 5 days at facilities provided by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
2011年5月7日土曜日
Police raid restaurant firm over food poisoning
Police have raided the operator of a barbecue restaurant chain and a meat wholesaler in connection with food poisoning that has killed 4 people.
Investigators searched the main office of Foods Forus in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Friday. Two restaurants in Toyama and Fukui prefectures where the food poisoning occurred were also searched.
The 4 victims -- 2 boys and 2 women -- all died after eating a Korean-style raw beef dish.
Health authorities detected the O-111 strain of E. coli bacteria in the boys.
Twenty-three others are said to be in serious condition after eating the dish at outlets of the chain.
Police believe the poisoning was caused by lax hygiene control.
Investigators say beef supplied by the wholesaler on or after April 16th may be contaminated with the bacteria, as all of the victims began showing symptoms after April 17th.
Friday, May 06, 201
Investigators searched the main office of Foods Forus in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Friday. Two restaurants in Toyama and Fukui prefectures where the food poisoning occurred were also searched.
The 4 victims -- 2 boys and 2 women -- all died after eating a Korean-style raw beef dish.
Health authorities detected the O-111 strain of E. coli bacteria in the boys.
Twenty-three others are said to be in serious condition after eating the dish at outlets of the chain.
Police believe the poisoning was caused by lax hygiene control.
Investigators say beef supplied by the wholesaler on or after April 16th may be contaminated with the bacteria, as all of the victims began showing symptoms after April 17th.
Friday, May 06, 201
Hiraizumi, Ogasawara recommeded for Heritage sites
UNESCO advisory bodies have recommended 2 places in Japan for inclusion on its World Heritage list.
The decision follows the Japanese government's proposal of the Hiraizumi district in the northern prefecture of Iwate as a cultural site and the Pacific islands of Ogasawara as a natural heritage site.
Hiraizumi features Buddhist temples and gardens built by the 12th-century Oshu Fujiwara clan.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites conducted a field study of Hiraizumi. The council concluded that it qualifies to be registered as a World Heritage site, on condition that some ruins are excluded.
The Ogasawara Islands are about 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo. They have never been connected to any landmass, and are known for their abundance of rare plants and animals. The scores of unique species include a butterfly called "Ogasawara-shijimi" or Celastrina ogasawaraensis.
The islands were recommended as a natural heritage site by another UNESCO advisory body, the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It conducted a field study last year.
Final decisions will be made at a meeting of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Paris next month. But the recommendations by the advisory bodies are thought to have ensured that the 2 sites will be listed.
Following the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, people in northern Japan have had high hopes for Hiraizumi's registration. They say its inclusion on the World Heritage list would help the region's recovery.
Japan has 11 cultural sites, including the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. The country also has 3 natural heritage sites, including Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido.
Saturday, May 07
The decision follows the Japanese government's proposal of the Hiraizumi district in the northern prefecture of Iwate as a cultural site and the Pacific islands of Ogasawara as a natural heritage site.
Hiraizumi features Buddhist temples and gardens built by the 12th-century Oshu Fujiwara clan.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites conducted a field study of Hiraizumi. The council concluded that it qualifies to be registered as a World Heritage site, on condition that some ruins are excluded.
The Ogasawara Islands are about 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo. They have never been connected to any landmass, and are known for their abundance of rare plants and animals. The scores of unique species include a butterfly called "Ogasawara-shijimi" or Celastrina ogasawaraensis.
The islands were recommended as a natural heritage site by another UNESCO advisory body, the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It conducted a field study last year.
Final decisions will be made at a meeting of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Paris next month. But the recommendations by the advisory bodies are thought to have ensured that the 2 sites will be listed.
Following the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, people in northern Japan have had high hopes for Hiraizumi's registration. They say its inclusion on the World Heritage list would help the region's recovery.
Japan has 11 cultural sites, including the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. The country also has 3 natural heritage sites, including Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido.
Saturday, May 07
2011年5月2日月曜日
Cool Biz begins one month earlier at Tokyo govt
Some Tokyo Metropolitan government staff wore light clothing to work on Monday, as the annual energy-saving campaign has begun a month earlier than usual.
The start of the Cool Biz campaign was moved up by one month as power shortages are expected this summer.
Tokyo government officials began the first workday of May without neckties and in short-sleeved shirts.
Posters at the entrance to the building ask Tokyo residents and workers to wear light clothing to reduce their use of air conditioning.
The Tokyo government says it will set air conditioners at 28 degrees Celsius during the summer, and the rule will be strictly observed.
It says the campaign will continue until the end of October, one month later than usual.
Monday, May 0
The start of the Cool Biz campaign was moved up by one month as power shortages are expected this summer.
Tokyo government officials began the first workday of May without neckties and in short-sleeved shirts.
Posters at the entrance to the building ask Tokyo residents and workers to wear light clothing to reduce their use of air conditioning.
The Tokyo government says it will set air conditioners at 28 degrees Celsius during the summer, and the rule will be strictly observed.
It says the campaign will continue until the end of October, one month later than usual.
Monday, May 0
2011年5月1日日曜日
More workers to be sent to Fukushima
The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is studying the possibility of sending more employees and former employees to the plant.
People who have previously worked at the plant and who have been trained in nuclear-related matters, such as radiation monitoring, are the potential candidates. About 3,000 people are believed to qualify.
About 1,000 workers of Tokyo Electric Power Company and its contract companies are currently working at the power plant to bring it under control.
TEPCO laid out a plan on April 17th to stabilize the reactors in 6 to 9 months. But the work is expected to take a long time and the radiation level is high.
On Saturday, 2 workers were found to have been exposed to more than 200 millisieverts of radiation.
Another 30 workers or so were exposed to radiation in excess of 100 millisieverts.
The government recently raised the legal limit for radiation exposure during an emergency from 100 millisieverts to 250 millisieverts.
The power company considers it necessary to have more people on site to proceed with the operation while ensuring the safety of the workers.
People who have previously worked at the plant and who have been trained in nuclear-related matters, such as radiation monitoring, are the potential candidates. About 3,000 people are believed to qualify.
About 1,000 workers of Tokyo Electric Power Company and its contract companies are currently working at the power plant to bring it under control.
TEPCO laid out a plan on April 17th to stabilize the reactors in 6 to 9 months. But the work is expected to take a long time and the radiation level is high.
On Saturday, 2 workers were found to have been exposed to more than 200 millisieverts of radiation.
Another 30 workers or so were exposed to radiation in excess of 100 millisieverts.
The government recently raised the legal limit for radiation exposure during an emergency from 100 millisieverts to 250 millisieverts.
The power company considers it necessary to have more people on site to proceed with the operation while ensuring the safety of the workers.
Minute levels of radiation detected in breast milk
Japan's Health Ministry says it has detected a minute amount of radioactive materials in breast milk in 7 mothers in central and northeastern Japan. The ministry says the amount does not pose a danger to their babies' health.
The ministry on Saturday released the results of a study conducted in Fukushima, Tokyo and other 3 prefectures in Kanto region from last Sunday through Thursday.
The ministry says breast milk samples from a mother in Iwaki City of Fukushima Prefecture contained 3.5 becquerels of radioactive iodine per kilogram and 2.4 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram.
Up to 2.8 becquerels of radioactive materials per kilogram were also detected in 6 mothers in 2 other prefectures.
Japan has no regulatory levels to determine the health risk from radioactive substances in breast milk. But it sets the safety levels for babies' consumption of milk and drinking water at 100 becquerels of radioactive iodine per kilogram and 200 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram.
The detected amount in the samples was much lower than the regulatory levels and the ministry says it is too minute to have any impact on babies' health. It also says mothers who are breast-feeding should not be overly concerned.
Professor Nobuya Unno of Kitasato University says it is necessary to carefully analyze how and for how long radioactive materials will affect breast milk when mothers drink water and eat food that contain such substances.
The ministry on Saturday released the results of a study conducted in Fukushima, Tokyo and other 3 prefectures in Kanto region from last Sunday through Thursday.
The ministry says breast milk samples from a mother in Iwaki City of Fukushima Prefecture contained 3.5 becquerels of radioactive iodine per kilogram and 2.4 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram.
Up to 2.8 becquerels of radioactive materials per kilogram were also detected in 6 mothers in 2 other prefectures.
Japan has no regulatory levels to determine the health risk from radioactive substances in breast milk. But it sets the safety levels for babies' consumption of milk and drinking water at 100 becquerels of radioactive iodine per kilogram and 200 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram.
The detected amount in the samples was much lower than the regulatory levels and the ministry says it is too minute to have any impact on babies' health. It also says mothers who are breast-feeding should not be overly concerned.
Professor Nobuya Unno of Kitasato University says it is necessary to carefully analyze how and for how long radioactive materials will affect breast milk when mothers drink water and eat food that contain such substances.
2011年4月28日木曜日
Over 22,000 residents file suit over Kadena noise
Some 22,000 residents around the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, southern Japan, have filed suit seeking a ban on night flights and damages over aircraft noise.
The number of plaintiffs is the largest ever for a lawsuit over noise at a military base in Japan.
Residents from 5 municipalities filed the complaint against the Japanese government on Thursday with the Naha District Court.
Plaintiffs are seeking about 540 million dollars in damages for the health hazard and other daily sufferings caused by aircraft noise from the largest US base in Far East Asia. They say the noise disturbs their sleep and caused hearing difficulties.
They are also demanding a ban on flights from night to early morning.
The plaintiffs will pursue the Japanese government's responsibility for providing the base to US forces.
This is the 3rd group suit of this kind over the Kadena base, following those filed in 1982 and 2000. In both previous cases, the court ordered the central government to pay compensation, but turned down their demand for a flight ban.
The head of the plaintiffs, Shusei Arakawa from Okinawa City, says noise pollution at Kadena has only worsened despite residents' continued complaints. Arakawa says residents' anger at the worsening situation led to the large number of plaintiffs.
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima said the biggest problem is that US bases continue to exist unchanged more than 65 years after the end of World War Two and nearly 40 years since the reversion of Okinawa. Nakaima says he hopes the lawsuit has a good outcome.
Both the US forces and Japanese government have refused to comment on the latest suit.
The number of plaintiffs is the largest ever for a lawsuit over noise at a military base in Japan.
Residents from 5 municipalities filed the complaint against the Japanese government on Thursday with the Naha District Court.
Plaintiffs are seeking about 540 million dollars in damages for the health hazard and other daily sufferings caused by aircraft noise from the largest US base in Far East Asia. They say the noise disturbs their sleep and caused hearing difficulties.
They are also demanding a ban on flights from night to early morning.
The plaintiffs will pursue the Japanese government's responsibility for providing the base to US forces.
This is the 3rd group suit of this kind over the Kadena base, following those filed in 1982 and 2000. In both previous cases, the court ordered the central government to pay compensation, but turned down their demand for a flight ban.
The head of the plaintiffs, Shusei Arakawa from Okinawa City, says noise pollution at Kadena has only worsened despite residents' continued complaints. Arakawa says residents' anger at the worsening situation led to the large number of plaintiffs.
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima said the biggest problem is that US bases continue to exist unchanged more than 65 years after the end of World War Two and nearly 40 years since the reversion of Okinawa. Nakaima says he hopes the lawsuit has a good outcome.
Both the US forces and Japanese government have refused to comment on the latest suit.
Saving arts and crafts in tsunami-hit Ishinomaki
Experts have begun work to restore cultural assets damaged by last month's earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.
Some 20 people, including art restoration experts and Cultural Affairs Agency officials, visited Ishinomaki Culture Center in Miyagi prefecture on Thursday.
They removed dirt from the surface of paintings after moving them out of the building as an emergency measure.
In their "cultural assets rescue operation," the experts will examine the condition of more than 100,000 paintings, sculptures and other art and craft pieces stored at the center.
The March 11 tsunami flooded the building, soaking many paintings and sculptures in seawater. Many other pieces were swept away by the waves.
Ishinomaki education board official Michio Oka said he wants to encourage local people by preserving historical assets that have been passed down through the generations.
The Cultural Affairs Agency says it has so far confirmed that about 500 cultural assets and historical sites protected by the government were damaged in the disaster.
Some 20 people, including art restoration experts and Cultural Affairs Agency officials, visited Ishinomaki Culture Center in Miyagi prefecture on Thursday.
They removed dirt from the surface of paintings after moving them out of the building as an emergency measure.
In their "cultural assets rescue operation," the experts will examine the condition of more than 100,000 paintings, sculptures and other art and craft pieces stored at the center.
The March 11 tsunami flooded the building, soaking many paintings and sculptures in seawater. Many other pieces were swept away by the waves.
Ishinomaki education board official Michio Oka said he wants to encourage local people by preserving historical assets that have been passed down through the generations.
The Cultural Affairs Agency says it has so far confirmed that about 500 cultural assets and historical sites protected by the government were damaged in the disaster.
2011年4月26日火曜日
Fukushima restricts park use
Fukushima Prefecture is restricting the use of 5 of its public parks due to high levels of radiation, causing concerns among nearby residents and park visitors.
The prefecture announced on Monday that it would limit the use of the parks to one hour a day, as radiation readings at the 5 facilities were at or above the safety limit set for outdoor activities in schools.
The safety limit set by the central government last week is 3.8 microsieverts per hour.
In Fukushima city, officials put up notices warning park users about the one-hour restriction at parks subject to the measure. They also covered children's sandboxes with plastic sheeting to prevent the spread of dust.
The prefectural government is urging visitors to prevent their children from putting sand or dirt in their mouths and to wash their hands and gargle after visiting the parks.
A mother of a 4-year-old said that since small children love to play outdoors, she's worried about the affects of radiation on her daughter.
Monday, Ap
The prefecture announced on Monday that it would limit the use of the parks to one hour a day, as radiation readings at the 5 facilities were at or above the safety limit set for outdoor activities in schools.
The safety limit set by the central government last week is 3.8 microsieverts per hour.
In Fukushima city, officials put up notices warning park users about the one-hour restriction at parks subject to the measure. They also covered children's sandboxes with plastic sheeting to prevent the spread of dust.
The prefectural government is urging visitors to prevent their children from putting sand or dirt in their mouths and to wash their hands and gargle after visiting the parks.
A mother of a 4-year-old said that since small children love to play outdoors, she's worried about the affects of radiation on her daughter.
Monday, Ap
2011年4月23日土曜日
Jordanian, Thai doctors to arrive in Fukushima
Doctors from Jordan and Thailand are to work with Japanese doctors in Fukushima to assist evacuees suffering from "economy-class syndrome" and other diseases.
Fukushima Medical University says a 4-member team from Jordan will arrive in Fukushima City on Monday and another from Thailand on May 9th.
The Jordanian team includes a cardiovascular specialist and an ultrasound technician and will stay 3 weeks. Members of the team will focus on examining an increasing number of patients who have problems with their legs due to a prolonged stay at cramped shelters.
The Thai team is scheduled to mainly treat children at shelters for 2 weeks.
The March 11th disaster and ensuing nuclear accident caused a surge in the number of patients in disaster-stricken areas, resulting in a shortage of doctors.
Many countries offered to dispatch doctors, but only one local government has accepted them so far. The reasons given for the hesitation include language barriers and differences in customs. The town of Minami-sanriku in Miyagi Prefecture has accepted doctors from Israel.
Saturday, April 23, 2011 10:34 +0900 (JST)
Fukushima Medical University says a 4-member team from Jordan will arrive in Fukushima City on Monday and another from Thailand on May 9th.
The Jordanian team includes a cardiovascular specialist and an ultrasound technician and will stay 3 weeks. Members of the team will focus on examining an increasing number of patients who have problems with their legs due to a prolonged stay at cramped shelters.
The Thai team is scheduled to mainly treat children at shelters for 2 weeks.
The March 11th disaster and ensuing nuclear accident caused a surge in the number of patients in disaster-stricken areas, resulting in a shortage of doctors.
Many countries offered to dispatch doctors, but only one local government has accepted them so far. The reasons given for the hesitation include language barriers and differences in customs. The town of Minami-sanriku in Miyagi Prefecture has accepted doctors from Israel.
Saturday, April 23, 2011 10:34 +0900 (JST)
2011年4月20日水曜日
World's oldest man turns 114 in Kyoto
The world's oldest man, who lives in the prefecture of Kyoto in western Japan, has turned 114.
Jiroemon Kimura, born in 1897, marked his 114th birthday on Tuesday at his home in Kyo-tango City, where he lives with the widow of his oldest son and the widow of a grandson.
Kimura, who worked at a local post office and then engaged in farming until the age of 90, now has 5 children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
The Gerontology Research Group in the United States listed Kimura as the world's oldest man, after the previous title holder, an American, died on April 14th, at the age of 114.
City officials said Kimura began his new year with a breakfast of grilled sea bream with steamed rice and red beans -- a traditional celebratory meal in Japan -- after reaching the dining table with a walker.
Kimura told the officials that he is honored at being titled the world's oldest man, which he said was decided by Heaven.
Jiroemon Kimura, born in 1897, marked his 114th birthday on Tuesday at his home in Kyo-tango City, where he lives with the widow of his oldest son and the widow of a grandson.
Kimura, who worked at a local post office and then engaged in farming until the age of 90, now has 5 children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
The Gerontology Research Group in the United States listed Kimura as the world's oldest man, after the previous title holder, an American, died on April 14th, at the age of 114.
City officials said Kimura began his new year with a breakfast of grilled sea bream with steamed rice and red beans -- a traditional celebratory meal in Japan -- after reaching the dining table with a walker.
Kimura told the officials that he is honored at being titled the world's oldest man, which he said was decided by Heaven.
2011年4月18日月曜日
Workers cannot approach reactor buildings
At the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, high levels of radiation have kept workers from approaching the buildings housing the first 3 reactors, which lost their cooling functions in the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.
On Friday, the highest radiation level measured outside the double-entry doors of the Number 1 to 3 reactor buildings was 2 to 4 millisieverts per hour.
Radiation levels measured between the double doors of those reactor buildings was 270 millisieverts in the Number One reactor, 12 in Number 2, and 10 in Number 3.
The radiation level detected at the Number One reactor exceeds the national exposure limit of 250 millisieverts for nuclear contract workers.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, TEPCO, has started using a remote-controlled robot inside the reactor buildings.
But issues remain as radioactive water has been found in turbine buildings and the utility tunnel outside the reactors.
At the Number 2 reactor, the level of highly contaminated water in the tunnel is still rising. To prevent overflow, TEPCO is stepping up the inspection of the nuclear waste processing facility, to which it aims to transfer contaminated water.
Underground water at the plant is also contaminated.
On Wednesday, the level of radioactive substances sharply increased at facilities where underground water from the Number 1 and 2 reactors is collected.
On Friday, workers kept on monitoring the situation.
They say the level of radioactive substances has stabilized or decreased in every reactor from 1 to 6.
So they say it's unlikely that highly radioactive water is still seeping into underground water.
Monday, Apri
On Friday, the highest radiation level measured outside the double-entry doors of the Number 1 to 3 reactor buildings was 2 to 4 millisieverts per hour.
Radiation levels measured between the double doors of those reactor buildings was 270 millisieverts in the Number One reactor, 12 in Number 2, and 10 in Number 3.
The radiation level detected at the Number One reactor exceeds the national exposure limit of 250 millisieverts for nuclear contract workers.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, TEPCO, has started using a remote-controlled robot inside the reactor buildings.
But issues remain as radioactive water has been found in turbine buildings and the utility tunnel outside the reactors.
At the Number 2 reactor, the level of highly contaminated water in the tunnel is still rising. To prevent overflow, TEPCO is stepping up the inspection of the nuclear waste processing facility, to which it aims to transfer contaminated water.
Underground water at the plant is also contaminated.
On Wednesday, the level of radioactive substances sharply increased at facilities where underground water from the Number 1 and 2 reactors is collected.
On Friday, workers kept on monitoring the situation.
They say the level of radioactive substances has stabilized or decreased in every reactor from 1 to 6.
So they say it's unlikely that highly radioactive water is still seeping into underground water.
Monday, Apri
Tohoku Shinkansen to fully resume April 30
The quake-hit Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train will resume full service between Tokyo and Shin-aomori in Aomori Prefecture at the end of this month.
On Monday, East Japan Railways announced that it will be reopening the 3 disrupted sections of the Tohoku Shinkansen route.
The company said service in the northern most section between Ichinoseki and Morioka will reopen on Saturday this week. Service between Fukushima and Sendai at the southern end will resume on Monday next week, to fully link Tokyo and Sendai.
The central section between Sendai and Ichinoseki will likely reopen on April 30th.
The full-service recovery will only be about 50 days after the bullet train route suffered major damage from the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.
The operator warns however that service will be reduced and the rides will take longer, because trains will have to slow down in some areas.
On Monday, East Japan Railways announced that it will be reopening the 3 disrupted sections of the Tohoku Shinkansen route.
The company said service in the northern most section between Ichinoseki and Morioka will reopen on Saturday this week. Service between Fukushima and Sendai at the southern end will resume on Monday next week, to fully link Tokyo and Sendai.
The central section between Sendai and Ichinoseki will likely reopen on April 30th.
The full-service recovery will only be about 50 days after the bullet train route suffered major damage from the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.
The operator warns however that service will be reduced and the rides will take longer, because trains will have to slow down in some areas.
2011年4月17日日曜日
Sunday market reopens in tsunami-hit Kesennuma
Residents of Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, have enjoyed shopping at a local market that reopened on Sunday, more than one month after a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck the city.
Around 30 shops, less than half the pre-disaster number, sold vegetables and dried marine products to regular customers who came to the market early in the morning.
The market had been open every Sunday for the past 37 years near Kesennuma Port, the center of the local fishing industry. But the tsunami swept it away.
The new market is about 2 kilometers from the old one.
Fish dealers from Hakodate in Hokkaido, northern Japan, came to celebrate the reopening of the market and gave away crabs to shoppers.
One shopper said residents had awaited reopening of the market as the first step toward reconstruction.
The vendors' group says it still plans to hold the market every Sunday.
A member of the group says fish dealers are unlikely to return to the market for some time, but the group wants to cheer up local residents by resuming business.
Around 30 shops, less than half the pre-disaster number, sold vegetables and dried marine products to regular customers who came to the market early in the morning.
The market had been open every Sunday for the past 37 years near Kesennuma Port, the center of the local fishing industry. But the tsunami swept it away.
The new market is about 2 kilometers from the old one.
Fish dealers from Hakodate in Hokkaido, northern Japan, came to celebrate the reopening of the market and gave away crabs to shoppers.
One shopper said residents had awaited reopening of the market as the first step toward reconstruction.
The vendors' group says it still plans to hold the market every Sunday.
A member of the group says fish dealers are unlikely to return to the market for some time, but the group wants to cheer up local residents by resuming business.
TEPCO issues 6-9 month containment plan
The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has issued a schedule for putting the crisis under control in 6 to 9 months.
The chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Company, Tsunehisa Katsumata, explained the plan at a news conference on Sunday.
The utility firm said a two-phase process is scheduled.
In the first stage over the next 3 months, it will build new cooling systems outside the Number 1 and 3 reactor buildings to cool down the nuclear fuel, and to ensure that radiation levels around the plant continue to decline.
The company says it will contain the radioactivity leakage from the Number 2 reactor by patching the damaged section.
In the second stage, TEPCO plans to lower the temperature of the nuclear fuel in the reactors to below 100 degrees Celsius to stabilize its condition.
The firm says the cooling will considerably lower the radiation levels in the environment around the plant.
The two-phases will be completed in 6 to 9 months.
The firm also plans to cover the reactor buildings with giant covers with filters to prevent the release of radioactive substances into the air.
It will also set up equipment to purify the contaminated water in tanks and other facilities.
At the same time, the company will increase the number of monitoring points within the government-set evacuation areas. It will use the data to neutralize the radioactive substances in soil and on buildings.
Sunday, April 17, 2011 16:35 +0900 (JST)
The chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Company, Tsunehisa Katsumata, explained the plan at a news conference on Sunday.
The utility firm said a two-phase process is scheduled.
In the first stage over the next 3 months, it will build new cooling systems outside the Number 1 and 3 reactor buildings to cool down the nuclear fuel, and to ensure that radiation levels around the plant continue to decline.
The company says it will contain the radioactivity leakage from the Number 2 reactor by patching the damaged section.
In the second stage, TEPCO plans to lower the temperature of the nuclear fuel in the reactors to below 100 degrees Celsius to stabilize its condition.
The firm says the cooling will considerably lower the radiation levels in the environment around the plant.
The two-phases will be completed in 6 to 9 months.
The firm also plans to cover the reactor buildings with giant covers with filters to prevent the release of radioactive substances into the air.
It will also set up equipment to purify the contaminated water in tanks and other facilities.
At the same time, the company will increase the number of monitoring points within the government-set evacuation areas. It will use the data to neutralize the radioactive substances in soil and on buildings.
Sunday, April 17, 2011 16:35 +0900 (JST)
2011年4月16日土曜日
No radiation change observed after water release
Japan's nuclear safety agency says no major changes have been observed in the concentration of radioactive substances in the sea around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after the release of low-level contaminated water.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, discharged a total of 10,393 tons of low-level radioactive wastewater from its damaged Fukushima plant between April 4th and 10th.
The government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says the amount of wastewater disposed of was 1,100 tons less than originally planned, resulting in the reduced release of radioactive substances.
To assess the effect of the contaminated water, the power company collected sea water samples from around the plant as well as from 15 kilometers offshore.
The nuclear safety agency says it has concluded that the data shows no major change in the concentration of radioactive substances.
But the agency also directed TEPCO to carry out long-term monitoring over a wider area and to assess the impact of the discharge by measuring radiation levels in fish and shellfish caught in nearby waters.
When releasing the wastewater, TEPCO had said that even if a person were to eat seafood from nearby waters every day for one year, the radiation exposure would total 0.6 millisieverts, which is below the annual permissible level of one millisievert.
Friday, April 15, 2
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, discharged a total of 10,393 tons of low-level radioactive wastewater from its damaged Fukushima plant between April 4th and 10th.
The government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says the amount of wastewater disposed of was 1,100 tons less than originally planned, resulting in the reduced release of radioactive substances.
To assess the effect of the contaminated water, the power company collected sea water samples from around the plant as well as from 15 kilometers offshore.
The nuclear safety agency says it has concluded that the data shows no major change in the concentration of radioactive substances.
But the agency also directed TEPCO to carry out long-term monitoring over a wider area and to assess the impact of the discharge by measuring radiation levels in fish and shellfish caught in nearby waters.
When releasing the wastewater, TEPCO had said that even if a person were to eat seafood from nearby waters every day for one year, the radiation exposure would total 0.6 millisieverts, which is below the annual permissible level of one millisievert.
Friday, April 15, 2
Wastewater level at No.2 reactor tunnel rising
The operator of the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says the level of highly radioactive water in a tunnel of the No. 2 reactor has been rising.
Contaminated water in the plant's facilities is hampering efforts to restore reactor cooling systems. Leakages of such water into the ocean and the ground are also raising concern.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, finished transferring part of the wastewater -- about 660 tons -- from the tunnel to a condenser in a turbine building on Wednesday.
The transfer lowered the water level in the tunnel by 8 centimeters, but it began rising again, exceeding the previous level by 2.5 centimeters as of Saturday morning.
TEPCO says work to fix the leakage of highly radioactive water into the ocean earlier this month may have caused water from the reactor to accumulate in the tunnel.
The company hopes to begin transferring contaminated water to a waste-processing facility by the end of next week. It is now accelerating work to monitor and fix water leaks in the facility.
Highly radioactive water may also be leaking underground.
On Thursday, TEPCO detected higher radiation levels in underground water. The observed level was up to 38 times that of one week ago.
TEPCO began taking radiation readings 3 times per week on Saturday, instead of just once per week.
Saturday, April 16, 2011 12
Contaminated water in the plant's facilities is hampering efforts to restore reactor cooling systems. Leakages of such water into the ocean and the ground are also raising concern.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, finished transferring part of the wastewater -- about 660 tons -- from the tunnel to a condenser in a turbine building on Wednesday.
The transfer lowered the water level in the tunnel by 8 centimeters, but it began rising again, exceeding the previous level by 2.5 centimeters as of Saturday morning.
TEPCO says work to fix the leakage of highly radioactive water into the ocean earlier this month may have caused water from the reactor to accumulate in the tunnel.
The company hopes to begin transferring contaminated water to a waste-processing facility by the end of next week. It is now accelerating work to monitor and fix water leaks in the facility.
Highly radioactive water may also be leaking underground.
On Thursday, TEPCO detected higher radiation levels in underground water. The observed level was up to 38 times that of one week ago.
TEPCO began taking radiation readings 3 times per week on Saturday, instead of just once per week.
Saturday, April 16, 2011 12
2011年4月15日金曜日
Fukushima Univ. checking high-altitude radiation
Fukushima University is checking radiation levels high in the atmosphere to get a better grasp of the extent of contamination from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The university says it released a large balloon on Friday carrying a weather observation device called a "radiosonde" as well as radiation measurement equipment into the skies above Fukushima City.
It plans to gauge radiation levels and collect other data up to 30 kilometers above ground. Readings will be taken at intervals of 10 meters over a period of 20 days.
The university has so far been measuring radiation closer to the ground. It has checked more than 300 locations in Fukushima Prefecture.
But it deems the current method insufficient to make a correct assessment of the diffusion of radioactive materials.
The university says the balloon survey will help make predictions about how toxic particles will spread across the globe.
University vice president Akira Watanabe, who is also a member of the research team, says the findings will be disclosed to the world along with projected radiation levels.
The university says it released a large balloon on Friday carrying a weather observation device called a "radiosonde" as well as radiation measurement equipment into the skies above Fukushima City.
It plans to gauge radiation levels and collect other data up to 30 kilometers above ground. Readings will be taken at intervals of 10 meters over a period of 20 days.
The university has so far been measuring radiation closer to the ground. It has checked more than 300 locations in Fukushima Prefecture.
But it deems the current method insufficient to make a correct assessment of the diffusion of radioactive materials.
The university says the balloon survey will help make predictions about how toxic particles will spread across the globe.
University vice president Akira Watanabe, who is also a member of the research team, says the findings will be disclosed to the world along with projected radiation levels.
Tokyo Disneyland reopens
Tokyo Disneyland reopened on Friday, one month after services were suspended because of the earthquake.
The popular theme park in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, shut down after some facilities were damaged by the March 11th quake. Power outages after the disaster also prompted the operator to keep the park closed.
About 10,000 devoted Disney fans waited in front of the main gate for the reopening on Friday morning. Some arrived there on Thursday night.
Visitors rushed to their favorite attractions and shops as soon as the gate opened at 8 AM. They were welcomed near the entrance by 25 Disney characters.
The park's operator says some attractions remain out of action for repairs. Opening hours have been scaled back to reduce power consumption, with the gates closing at 6PM.
Neighboring theme park, Tokyo DisneySea, will stay closed until further notice.
The popular theme park in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, shut down after some facilities were damaged by the March 11th quake. Power outages after the disaster also prompted the operator to keep the park closed.
About 10,000 devoted Disney fans waited in front of the main gate for the reopening on Friday morning. Some arrived there on Thursday night.
Visitors rushed to their favorite attractions and shops as soon as the gate opened at 8 AM. They were welcomed near the entrance by 25 Disney characters.
The park's operator says some attractions remain out of action for repairs. Opening hours have been scaled back to reduce power consumption, with the gates closing at 6PM.
Neighboring theme park, Tokyo DisneySea, will stay closed until further notice.
Radiation levels in underground water rise
The operator of the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says radiation levels in underground water gathered in so-called sub-drain pits rose by up to 38 times during the past week.
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, is working to remove contaminated water from the basements of the turbine buildings and tunnels. The contaminated water is hindering efforts to restore the reactors' cooling systems.
TEPCO said that in its monitoring on Wednesday, it found 400 becquerels of iodine-131 and 53 becquerels of cesium-134 per cubic centimeter in the No. 1 reactor's sub-drain pit. These levels are 6 times and 38 times higher than a week ago respectively.
In the No.2 reactor's pit, 610 becquerels of iodine-131 and 7.9 becquerels of cesium-134 per cubic centimeter were detected. These levels are 17 times and 8 times higher than a week ago respectively.
TEPCO says the sub-drain pits of the 2 reactors are connected by a pipe and that the highly radioactive water in the No. 2 reactor could be leaking underground.
TEPCO is to increase its radiation readings to 3 times per week from Saturday on the instructions of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.
Friday, April 15, 2011 10:43 +0900 (JST)
Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, is working to remove contaminated water from the basements of the turbine buildings and tunnels. The contaminated water is hindering efforts to restore the reactors' cooling systems.
TEPCO said that in its monitoring on Wednesday, it found 400 becquerels of iodine-131 and 53 becquerels of cesium-134 per cubic centimeter in the No. 1 reactor's sub-drain pit. These levels are 6 times and 38 times higher than a week ago respectively.
In the No.2 reactor's pit, 610 becquerels of iodine-131 and 7.9 becquerels of cesium-134 per cubic centimeter were detected. These levels are 17 times and 8 times higher than a week ago respectively.
TEPCO says the sub-drain pits of the 2 reactors are connected by a pipe and that the highly radioactive water in the No. 2 reactor could be leaking underground.
TEPCO is to increase its radiation readings to 3 times per week from Saturday on the instructions of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.
Friday, April 15, 2011 10:43 +0900 (JST)
2011年4月11日月曜日
M 7.0 quake hits northeastern Japan
A strong earthquake struck north-eastern Japan at 5:16 PM, local time, on Monday. The Meteorological Agency at one time issued tsunami warnings for the coastal areas of Ibaraki Prefecture.
The agency said the earthquake's magnitude was 7.0, and that its focus was in Fukushima Prefecture at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Intensities of 6 minus on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7 were registered in some areas of Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures, including Furudono Town, Nakajima Village and Hokota City. An intensity of 5 plus was registered in many areas in the southern Tohoku and northern Kanto regions.
The Meteorological Agency lifted the tsunami warnings about fifty minutes later. A tsunami advisory for the coastal areas of neighboring prefectures was also lifted.
Several minor quakes occurred following the major quake at 5:16. The agency is also warning of possible aftershocks with intensities of 6 plus or 6 minus.
The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company, says radiation figures at monitoring posts around the plant remain unchanged. The utility firm also says outdoor workers had been ordered to temporarily evacuate.
The agency said the earthquake's magnitude was 7.0, and that its focus was in Fukushima Prefecture at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Intensities of 6 minus on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7 were registered in some areas of Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures, including Furudono Town, Nakajima Village and Hokota City. An intensity of 5 plus was registered in many areas in the southern Tohoku and northern Kanto regions.
The Meteorological Agency lifted the tsunami warnings about fifty minutes later. A tsunami advisory for the coastal areas of neighboring prefectures was also lifted.
Several minor quakes occurred following the major quake at 5:16. The agency is also warning of possible aftershocks with intensities of 6 plus or 6 minus.
The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company, says radiation figures at monitoring posts around the plant remain unchanged. The utility firm also says outdoor workers had been ordered to temporarily evacuate.
2011年4月9日土曜日
Japanese police on alert for return of gang boss
Japanese police are starting intensive monitoring of activity of the country's largest crime syndicate, Yamaguchi-gumi.
Following the release of syndicate leader Kenichi Shinoda from prison in Tokyo on Saturday morning, the 69-year-old man returned to the group's headquarters in Kobe, western Japan.
Shinoda served a 6-year prison term after he was found guilty of giving his bodyguard a gun.
Police say Yamaguchi-gumi effectively controls another criminal group known as Kodo-kai, based in Nagoya, central Japan, as Shinoda comes from that group.
Police warn that Shinoda's return may spur the 2 criminal organizations to expand their influence to wider areas, including Tokyo, through alliances with other criminal groups.
Saturday, April 09, 2011 14:14 +09
Following the release of syndicate leader Kenichi Shinoda from prison in Tokyo on Saturday morning, the 69-year-old man returned to the group's headquarters in Kobe, western Japan.
Shinoda served a 6-year prison term after he was found guilty of giving his bodyguard a gun.
Police say Yamaguchi-gumi effectively controls another criminal group known as Kodo-kai, based in Nagoya, central Japan, as Shinoda comes from that group.
Police warn that Shinoda's return may spur the 2 criminal organizations to expand their influence to wider areas, including Tokyo, through alliances with other criminal groups.
Saturday, April 09, 2011 14:14 +09
2011年4月7日木曜日
Free admission for May sumo tourney
The Japan Sumo Association in the wake of a bout fixing scandal has decided to hold a free tournament in May instead of the normally scheduled summer tourney.
The tournament is being called a skill test that will be used to assign rankings to wrestlers for the next grand sumo tournament.
The board of the association made the decision on Wednesday.
The association acknowledged last week that 23 wrestlers and stable masters were involved in match fixing and asked them retire or resign. By Wednesday 21 wrestlers retired and one stablemaster resigned. Another stablemaster who declined the request to resign was dismissed.
The board meeting agreed not to hold the regular summer tournament, instead opting to admit spectators free of charge. It said that scandal investigation was not completely finished and that measures to prevent match-fixing are not yet in place.
But, it decided to hold the tournament as a 15-day meet starting on May 8th in Tokyo to assess each wrestler's skills to compile rankings to be used in the next tournament. The results of the bouts in May will be officially recorded.
The ring-entering ceremony and the ritual bow ceremony will be held as usual. The tournament winner and winners of 3 special prizes will also be commended.
But, the association will decline the Emperor's Cup for the tourney winner and there will be no prize money for bout winners. The sumo association will start discussion on concrete ways to allow fans to see the tournament without charge.
The organization cancelled the previous tournament scheduled for Osaka in March because of the match-fixing scandal.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 19:29 +0900 (JST)
The tournament is being called a skill test that will be used to assign rankings to wrestlers for the next grand sumo tournament.
The board of the association made the decision on Wednesday.
The association acknowledged last week that 23 wrestlers and stable masters were involved in match fixing and asked them retire or resign. By Wednesday 21 wrestlers retired and one stablemaster resigned. Another stablemaster who declined the request to resign was dismissed.
The board meeting agreed not to hold the regular summer tournament, instead opting to admit spectators free of charge. It said that scandal investigation was not completely finished and that measures to prevent match-fixing are not yet in place.
But, it decided to hold the tournament as a 15-day meet starting on May 8th in Tokyo to assess each wrestler's skills to compile rankings to be used in the next tournament. The results of the bouts in May will be officially recorded.
The ring-entering ceremony and the ritual bow ceremony will be held as usual. The tournament winner and winners of 3 special prizes will also be commended.
But, the association will decline the Emperor's Cup for the tourney winner and there will be no prize money for bout winners. The sumo association will start discussion on concrete ways to allow fans to see the tournament without charge.
The organization cancelled the previous tournament scheduled for Osaka in March because of the match-fixing scandal.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011 19:29 +0900 (JST)
Asakusa sees sharp drop in foreign tourists
Visitors from overseas have all but disappeared from Tokyo's Asakusa district in the wake of the nuclear crisis following the March 11 quake and tsunami.
The downtown district of Asakusa is a major tourist attraction that draws around 30-million visitors every year, half of them foreigners.
But now, those visiting Sensoji Temple and the avenue of stalls leading up to the temple are mostly Japanese.
Individual travelers from the United States and Europe are starting to come back in the past several days. But the group tours from China and South Korea that used to crowd the site are nowhere to be seen.
The owner of a shop selling T-shirts and yukata cotton kimono say business is tough because up to 70 percent of customers have been foreigners. The owner said he wants the government to properly declare Tokyo's safety and allay fears of radiation leaks from the nuclear power plant.
The head of Asakusa's tourism promotion group Shigemi Fuji says that without foreign tourists, Asakusa looks like the old town it used to be.
He says foreigners will probably start coming back once they realize that Tokyo is safe, but he can only pray for the nuclear situation to be put under control.
The downtown district of Asakusa is a major tourist attraction that draws around 30-million visitors every year, half of them foreigners.
But now, those visiting Sensoji Temple and the avenue of stalls leading up to the temple are mostly Japanese.
Individual travelers from the United States and Europe are starting to come back in the past several days. But the group tours from China and South Korea that used to crowd the site are nowhere to be seen.
The owner of a shop selling T-shirts and yukata cotton kimono say business is tough because up to 70 percent of customers have been foreigners. The owner said he wants the government to properly declare Tokyo's safety and allay fears of radiation leaks from the nuclear power plant.
The head of Asakusa's tourism promotion group Shigemi Fuji says that without foreign tourists, Asakusa looks like the old town it used to be.
He says foreigners will probably start coming back once they realize that Tokyo is safe, but he can only pray for the nuclear situation to be put under control.
2011年3月27日日曜日
High level of iodine 131 in seawater near N-plant
A high level of radioactive iodine has been detected in seawater near Japan's troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The facility was hit by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said on Saturday that iodine 131 in excess of 1,250 times regulated standards was found in seawater collected 330 meters south of a plant water outlet at 8:30 AM on Friday.
The agency says there is no immediate threat to people within the 20-kilometer evacuation zone. The agency adds that as seawater is dispersed by ocean currents the contamination level will decline.
Iodine 131 at146.9 times regulated standards was detected in seawater in the area on Wednesday.
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said on Saturday that iodine 131 in excess of 1,250 times regulated standards was found in seawater collected 330 meters south of a plant water outlet at 8:30 AM on Friday.
The agency says there is no immediate threat to people within the 20-kilometer evacuation zone. The agency adds that as seawater is dispersed by ocean currents the contamination level will decline.
Iodine 131 at146.9 times regulated standards was detected in seawater in the area on Wednesday.
2011年3月14日月曜日
Power cuts force businesses to suspend operations
The rotating blackouts that began on Monday across Tokyo and surrounding areas have prompted businesses in the region to suspend their activities.
Electronics maker Toshiba halted operations at 2 plants and an office in areas subject to the power cuts.
Toshiba says it does not know how long the suspension will be in place, nor how it will affect earnings.
Chemical company Showa Denko has shut down 8 of its plants for 3 days. The company says that if the suspension is prolonged, it may be unable to supply its customers.
Many supermarkets and convenience stores plan to close their doors during the blackout hours.
Major department store operators closed some of their outlets, and say they haven't decided what to do from Tuesday.
Automobile parts maker Yorozu turned off all lighting at its head office in Yokohama, near Tokyo.
Chairman Akihiko Shido says the daily power cuts are detrimental to his company's production. He urges Tokyo Electric Power Company to restrict the blackouts to once every several days.
Monday, March 14, 2011 20:
Electronics maker Toshiba halted operations at 2 plants and an office in areas subject to the power cuts.
Toshiba says it does not know how long the suspension will be in place, nor how it will affect earnings.
Chemical company Showa Denko has shut down 8 of its plants for 3 days. The company says that if the suspension is prolonged, it may be unable to supply its customers.
Many supermarkets and convenience stores plan to close their doors during the blackout hours.
Major department store operators closed some of their outlets, and say they haven't decided what to do from Tuesday.
Automobile parts maker Yorozu turned off all lighting at its head office in Yokohama, near Tokyo.
Chairman Akihiko Shido says the daily power cuts are detrimental to his company's production. He urges Tokyo Electric Power Company to restrict the blackouts to once every several days.
Monday, March 14, 2011 20:
2011年3月13日日曜日
Nuclear accident rated at level 4
The Japanese government rates the accident at the Fukushima Number One nuclear power plant at level 4 on an international scale of 0 to 7.
Two radioactive substances, cesium and radioactive iodine, were detected near the Number One reactor at the plant on Saturday. Their presence indicates nuclear fission of uranium.
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said that fuel in the reactor partially melted. It's the first such accident in Japan.
A level 4 on the International Nuclear and Radiologocal Event Scale includes damage to fuel and release of significant quantities of radioactive material within an installation.
It's the same level as a criticality accident at a nuclear fuel processing plant in Tokai Village in Ibaraki Prefecture, south of Fukushima, in 1999.
The agency called the accident very regrettable even though it was triggered by an earthquake.
Two radioactive substances, cesium and radioactive iodine, were detected near the Number One reactor at the plant on Saturday. Their presence indicates nuclear fission of uranium.
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said that fuel in the reactor partially melted. It's the first such accident in Japan.
A level 4 on the International Nuclear and Radiologocal Event Scale includes damage to fuel and release of significant quantities of radioactive material within an installation.
It's the same level as a criticality accident at a nuclear fuel processing plant in Tokai Village in Ibaraki Prefecture, south of Fukushima, in 1999.
The agency called the accident very regrettable even though it was triggered by an earthquake.
False claims circulating by e-mail
In the wake of the devastating earthquake in northeastern Japan, chain e-mails and misinformation are circulating on the Internet.
E-mails warn that a massive fire at an oil refinery in Chiba triggered by the quake could contaminate rainfall with toxic substances. They advise people to use umbrellas and raincoats for protection.
The oil company that operates the refinery says that what the message suggests is not true. It notes that the liquefied petroleum gas from tanks which has burned off hardly affects the human body.
The chain e-mails apparently aim to gain attention by propagating sensationalist misinformation.
On Twitter, groundless warnings, including one reading that "another quake will hit western Japan", have been posted. In some malicious messages, people pretending to be quake victims called for help.
The government warns such misinformation could spread fast on the Internet, hampering rescue and evacuation efforts of those actually affected by the quake.
It advises people to reference any claims found in e-mails with information provided by local authorities and relevant companies.
E-mails warn that a massive fire at an oil refinery in Chiba triggered by the quake could contaminate rainfall with toxic substances. They advise people to use umbrellas and raincoats for protection.
The oil company that operates the refinery says that what the message suggests is not true. It notes that the liquefied petroleum gas from tanks which has burned off hardly affects the human body.
The chain e-mails apparently aim to gain attention by propagating sensationalist misinformation.
On Twitter, groundless warnings, including one reading that "another quake will hit western Japan", have been posted. In some malicious messages, people pretending to be quake victims called for help.
The government warns such misinformation could spread fast on the Internet, hampering rescue and evacuation efforts of those actually affected by the quake.
It advises people to reference any claims found in e-mails with information provided by local authorities and relevant companies.
Nuclear reactors in serious status
Work on cooling nuclear reactors is facing difficulties at 2 power plants in quake-hit Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan.
At the Fukushima Number One Power Plant, both the number one reactor, and the number two reactor's emergency generators broke down, making it difficult to pump water into the reactors. That allowed temperatures in the reactors to rise.
Pressure inside the containment vessel of the reactors also remains higher than normal.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company, the plants' operator, tried to restore depressurizing equipment using a mobile generator. But the plan failed as the equipment had already been damaged by tsunami waves.
At the Number Two Plant, cooling water temperatures in its 3 reactors remain at 100 degrees Celsius--more than 3-times higher than the normal operating temperature.
The utility is considering other options to restore failed cooling systems for these reactors.
On Saturday, the government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said 2 radioactive substances, cesium and iodine, had been detected near the Number One reactor at the Number One power plant. This indicates nuclear fission of uranium fuel. The agency announced some fuel in the reactor had partially melted. Sea water is being used to try to cool that reactor.
The electric company is not sure how soon it will be able to completely halt the reactors at the 2 power stations.
At the Fukushima Number One Power Plant, both the number one reactor, and the number two reactor's emergency generators broke down, making it difficult to pump water into the reactors. That allowed temperatures in the reactors to rise.
Pressure inside the containment vessel of the reactors also remains higher than normal.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company, the plants' operator, tried to restore depressurizing equipment using a mobile generator. But the plan failed as the equipment had already been damaged by tsunami waves.
At the Number Two Plant, cooling water temperatures in its 3 reactors remain at 100 degrees Celsius--more than 3-times higher than the normal operating temperature.
The utility is considering other options to restore failed cooling systems for these reactors.
On Saturday, the government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said 2 radioactive substances, cesium and iodine, had been detected near the Number One reactor at the Number One power plant. This indicates nuclear fission of uranium fuel. The agency announced some fuel in the reactor had partially melted. Sea water is being used to try to cool that reactor.
The electric company is not sure how soon it will be able to completely halt the reactors at the 2 power stations.
2011年3月12日土曜日
Many take shelter in Tokyo
The earthquake caused train service to be suspended across Tokyo. Many people had to seek shelter in various facilities, including schools, community halls and sports centers.
Government ministries and agencies in central Tokyo have also been opened as shelters, among them an auditorium and 9 job-placement offices.
On top of that, some restaurants and commercial buildings have voluntarily made their facilities available.
People who wanted to get home formed long lines at stations in central Tokyo to take a taxi or bus.
Bus companies increased their service and continued operation until late into the night. Some railways that resumed their services also extended their hours.
Saturday, March 1
Government ministries and agencies in central Tokyo have also been opened as shelters, among them an auditorium and 9 job-placement offices.
On top of that, some restaurants and commercial buildings have voluntarily made their facilities available.
People who wanted to get home formed long lines at stations in central Tokyo to take a taxi or bus.
Bus companies increased their service and continued operation until late into the night. Some railways that resumed their services also extended their hours.
Saturday, March 1
High level of radiation observed at nuclear plant
Fukushima Prefecture says a high level of radiation has been measured near the Fukushima Number One nuclear power station.
The prefecture says the radiation level rose to 1,015 mircrosieverts per hour on Saturday.
One hour of exposure to this amount of radiation is equivalent to the permissible amount of radiation an ordinary person receives in one year. It is about twice the level that requires power companies to notify the government of an emergency situation.
The government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says the power station's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, observed the radiation level near a gate on the hillside of the plant at 3:29 PM on Saturday, before an explosion was reported at the nuclear plant.
Saturday, March 12, 2011 18:43
The prefecture says the radiation level rose to 1,015 mircrosieverts per hour on Saturday.
One hour of exposure to this amount of radiation is equivalent to the permissible amount of radiation an ordinary person receives in one year. It is about twice the level that requires power companies to notify the government of an emergency situation.
The government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says the power station's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, observed the radiation level near a gate on the hillside of the plant at 3:29 PM on Saturday, before an explosion was reported at the nuclear plant.
Saturday, March 12, 2011 18:43
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