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.
2011年7月31日日曜日
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.
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