30% of Japanese live on land vulnerable to shaking

New research shows almost one-third of the Japanese population lives on land that is vulnerable to shaking in the event of an earthquake. A study group from the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention made the analysis. The researchers found that areas that are especially vulnerable to shaking account for 6 percent of Japan's total area. The areas include the Kanto Plain around Tokyo and plains surrounding other major cities -- Osaka, Nagoya, and Sapporo. The researchers say about 38 million people, or nearly one-third of the Japanese population, live in these areas. They say there is a high possibility of liquefaction, particularly in coastal regions and riverside districts created using landfill and sand. The study points to the need for extensive efforts to make buildings quake-proof and capable of withstanding liquefaction.

Japanese families bear high education cost

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development says Japanese families spend more than 30 percent of their income on education. The figure is the third highest among the 31 OECD members for which data are available. The organization released a report based on a survey it carried out in 2009. The report says Japanese families spend 31.9 percent of their income on tuition fees and educational materials from preschools to universities. Central and local governments cover 68.1 percent of all education-related costs. The money is mainly used for teachers' salaries and to maintain facilities. Families in OECD member nations spend an average of 16 percent of their incomes on education. Finland has the lowest amount at 2.4 percent. University of Tokyo Professor Masayuki Kobayashi says parents in Japan traditionally feel a strong sense of responsibility for their children's education. He said Japan will not see an increase in public spending on education until more people think that society as a whole has to make a greater contribution.

Tsukiji outer market opens information center

An information center has opened at Tsukiji fish market's outer area in Tokyo, for visitors such as professional chefs and Japanese and international tourists. A local non-profit organization established Plat Tsukiji in the outer market, which has many wholesale and retail shops and restaurants. The Tsukiji market area is a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Services are available in Japanese and English from 8 AM to 2 PM from Mondays to Saturdays and from 10 AM to 2 PM on Sundays and holidays. Insulated bags to carry marine produce are available for purchase. Visitors can also take a break at the center. The chief director of the NPO corporation, which operates the information center, Akio Suzuki said they hope to draw many people to the market by giving them information about high quality foods used by professionals.

Hiroshima marks 67th a-bomb anniversary

Hiroshima has marked the 67th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the city by calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons and the development of energy sources that are safe and secure. About 50,000 people gathered on Monday at Hiroshima's Peace Park near ground zero. At the memorial ceremony, attended by representatives of about 70 countries, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui referred to the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant last year. He called on the government to establish an energy policy that would protect the safety and security of citizens. An updated list of 280,959 victims was placed at the cenotaph. It contains the names of 5,729 who died or were confirmed dead in the past year. The peace bell was rung at 8:15 AM to mark the exact time the atomic bomb was dropped, and all participants observed a moment of silence. In the Peace Declaration, Mayor Matsui said Japan learned a lesson from the Fukushima nuclear accident and is now engaged in a national debate over its energy policy. He noted that some voices are insisting that humankind and nuclear energy cannot co-exist. He said Japan must take a bolder role in leading global disarmament efforts. He also urged the government expand its support for people affected by black rain, a term used to describe the radioactive fallout from the atomic bomb. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in his speech also referred to the Fukushima accident, saying the government is doing all it can to help people affected by the disaster return to their normal lives as soon as possible. He also said the government will try to establish a new structure of energy sources that people feel at ease with, and that fits Japan's goal of reducing dependency on nuclear power generation. Mayor Tamotsu Baba of Namie Town in Fukushima was among the participants. His town is still within the evacuation zone. He told reporters that the March 11th disaster and the bombing 67 years ago were tragic in many similar ways. He said he has shared the hardship of being exposed to radiation with atomic bomb survivors. Events to renew the pledge for peace will continue through the day in Hiroshima. Aug. 6, 2012 - Updated 03:56 UTC (12:56 J

Robot probe detects high radiation at No.3 reactor

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has detected high levels of radiation in the basement of the No. 3 reactor, with a maximum dose of 360 millisieverts per hour. Tokyo Electric Power Company sent in a robot on Wednesday to the room where the suppression chamber is located. It was the first robot to probe this area of the plant. TEPCO released video taken inside. They show that a door on the southwestern side is broken. There is no other apparent damage or sign of water leakage. But high levels of radiation were detected. Readings exceeded 100 millisieverts per hour in a number of locations. Average levels were higher than those in the No.2 reactor. Engineers lost control of the remote-controlled robot after around 3 hours of operation. They say there are problems with the connecting cable and they've been unable to regain control. TEPCO officials say they have no option but to leave the robot where it is for the time being. This may pose a problem to the utility's efforts to decommission the reactor. The operators are in a hurry to identify and repair damage to the reactor's suppression chamber and containment vessel. They want to pump in water in order to remove the melted fuel lying at the bottom.

Ohi nuclear plant to go back line on Sunday

One of the reactors at the Ohi nuclear power plant in central Japan on Sunday will go back online. It will be the first to do so since reactors went offline due to safety concerns after the Fukushima accident last year. All nuclear reactors in Japan are now offline. New safety regulations were called for after the accident in March at the Fukushima plant. The government says the regulations are now just being met. Operator Kansai Electric Power Company has been making preparations for the restart since the government decided on June 16th to resume the No.3 and No.4 reactors at the plant in Fukui Prefecture. The company plans to start lifting control rods in the No.3 reactor at 9:00 PM in the presence of senior vice industry minister Seishu Makino and Ohi Town Mayor Shinobu Tokioka. The reactor is expected to reach criticality, starting a self-sustaining chain reaction, early on Monday. The utility says the reactor will start generating power on Wednesday, and begin operating at full capacity 4 days later. The facility was shut down about 15 months ago. The operator says it plans to restart the No.4 reactor as early as July 17th for full-capacity operations by the 24th. The Ohi plant has been under strict around-the-clock monitoring since June 16th. Nine minor problems have been reported since then, including an interruption in the power grid monitoring signal.

Largest Japanese-animation expo in US opens

An exposition of Japanese animation films and video games is being held in Los Angeles. The annual Anime Expo opened at Los Angeles Convention Center, California, on Friday. The US-based Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation organized the 4-day event for films and video games. The event is expected to draw 130,000 visitors. The expo features the latest versions of video games based on popular Japanese animation films. In some booths, fans were excited at being able to use online services to watch on their Smartphone handsets animation films aired in Japan less than an hour earlier. The films are shown with English subtitles. Drinks and snacks are available at a cafe that resembles the popular "maid cafes" in Japan's Akihabara electric town. In the Tokyo cafes, waitresses dressed as maids treat customers like masters or mistresses in high-status people's homes of several generations ago. Many fans also dressed themselves as their favorite animation character in what is known as cosplay. An American girl said she enjoyed meeting other cosplayers. She said the art of animation is very interesting and inspiring. A charity auction will be held for donations to the disaster-hit Tohoku region of Japan and other places around the world.

Ban on night pet displays

Pet stores in Japan will no longer be allowed to display dogs and cats in brightly-lit shop windows in the evening. A revised animal protection law that took effect on Friday bans pet shops from displaying dogs and cats from 8 PM to 8 AM. The law is aimed at protecting the animals from possible health hazards caused by exposure to bright lights until late in the evening. But the government will delay implementing the regulations for so-called cat cafes, where cat-lovers play and relax with cats. Such places can continue to operate until 10 PM for 2 more years. The law also states that facilities for older dogs and cats, as well as pet auction operators, must register with their prefectural governments. This is due to growing hygiene concerns at these facilities and the difficulty of tracing the medical records of pets sold at auction. Prefectural governments will issue warnings to this effect and fine violators. The Environment Ministry says it hopes the law will help ensure that pets are kept and sold in a humane manner.

Climax of Tokyo's "Sanja Matsuri" festival

People in Tokyo have enjoyed the climax of the annual 3-day early summer festival featuring 3 portable shrines. The event was held for the first time in 2 years. The "Sanja Matsuri" is one of the capital's largest festivals with a 700-year history and is held in the Asakusa district of downtown Tokyo. Last year, following the earthquake and tsunami on March 11th, the organizers decided to cancel most parts of the festival, including the parade. On Sunday, men and women wearing "happi" coats carried 3 golden portable shrines on their shoulders to take different routes for the 3 shrines that each weigh about one ton. Thousands of onlookers cheered the participants and took photos of the parade. A woman who carried one of the shrines said the town looked deserted last year. She said she feels even happier than before to take part in the festival after one year's absence. The organizer's representative, Nobuhisa Yoshioka, said the Tokyo Sky Tree will open soon and Tokyo will have a new tourist attraction along with traditional events like this festival. He said he hopes the festival will encourage people to find ways to boost the economy.

Annular eclipse seen across Japan

An annular solar eclipse was visible over a wide area of Japan on Monday morning, giving thrills to observers across the nation. For the first time in 932 years, the rare astronomical event could be seen from a wide area of Japan including Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. It was seen from Kagoshima Prefecture in the southwest to Fukushima in northeastern Japan. An annular eclipse occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth are exactly in line. Instead of obscuring the sun, the eclipse creates a bright ring, called an annular, around the moon's silhouette. In Japan, the moon began sliding in front of the sun from around 6 AM. At Cape Muroto in western Japan, a partial eclipse began at around 6:15 AM, and the "ring of fire" was formed about one hour later. The point where the annular eclipse is visible moved from west to east in a quick succession, from Osaka to Nagoya to Tokyo and then Fukushima. The eclipse was visible in more places than anticipated because the weather cooperated at the last minute, despite forecasts for cloudy skies in many areas. In Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, NHK cameras caught a high-definition image of Baily's beads --- a spectacle only visible during fleeting moments of the annular eclipse. The image shows beads of sunlight shining through rugged valleys on the edge of the moon. Observation events were held on land, sea and in the air. Some elementary schools held viewing parties. Astronomers say the next time an annular eclipse can be seen across such a wide area will be 300 years from now, in 2312

Kyoto: Govt explanation on Ohi insufficient

A Kyoto prefectural official says the government's explanations on the safety of the Ohi nuclear power plant are insufficient to restart its reactors. The official spoke to a senior representative from the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, Tetsuya Yamamoto, at the Kyoto Prefectural hall on Tuesday. Yamamoto explained that the entire government is dedicated to putting fresh safety standards in place following the Fukushima accident. But the Kyoto official, who heads the crisis management team, replied that it is unclear to what extent the nuclear safety commission was involved in devising the standards. He said the government explanation is inconsistent with the demands of local people. In mid-April, the government decided that the Ohi plant's 2 reactors on the Japan Sea coast need to be restarted to ensure that the Kansai region does not suffer power shortages this summer. The reactors are offline for regular checkups. Tuesday, May 01, 2012 14:53 +0900 (JST)

Storm warning for western and eastern Japan

Stormy weather is hitting western through eastern Japan on Tuesday. The strong winds and rain are due to a low-pressure system over the Sea of Japan. In Tonami City in Toyama Prefecture, central Japan, winds of up to 123 kilometers per hour were observed on Tuesday afternoon. Heavy rain hit some spots in western Japan. In Kobe, 50.5 millimeters of rain fell between 1:30 and 2:30 PM. The Meteorological Agency says the system will move eastward and cross over northern Japan overnight. Winds of up to about 90 kilometers per hour are forecast in the Kanto and Tohoku regions from Tuesday evening. The agency says heavy rain may fall in parts of the Pacific coast from western through northern Japan. It also warns of strong winds, thunderstorms and tornadoes.

5 likely died of starvation in no-entry zone

NHK has learned that at least 5 people probably died of starvation after being stranded in the evacuation zone around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant following the disaster last year.

The earthquake and tsunami that struck eastern Japan in March last year left 1,605 people dead in Fukushima Prefecture.

Local authorities in the area say that at least 5 others found later in the no-entry zone around the Fukushima nuclear plant had starved to death.

The government evacuated residents around the plant after the accident.

But some people were left behind. One man in his 70s, who lived about 5 kilometers from the plant, was found in late March on the 2nd floor of his home. The 1st floor had sustained damage from the tsunami.

A woman in her 60s was found dead last April inside her home, where she lived alone. She had had trouble walking.

All of the 5 dead were found grossly under weight.

Police and medical authorities examined the 5 bodies and said they appeared to have been stranded, either because they were unable to evacuate on their own or could not ask for help.

Plum festival opens at Mito's Kairakuen garden

An annual Plum Festival has opened at the Kairaku-en garden north of Tokyo.

Kairaku-en in Mito City, Ibaraki prefecture, is known as one of the 3 most beautiful gardens in Japan.

The 130,000-square-meter garden has some 3,000 plum trees of about 100 varieties.

Garden officials say because of the colder than usual weather this winter, only about 50 trees have come into bloom.

On Saturday, visitors could be seen strolling among the trees, and photographing the ones with blossoms.

Last year's earthquake damaged some of the garden's slopes. It also cracked the clay walls in an old summer house of a feudal lord on the grounds. Restoration work was completed earlier this month.

Park officials say they expect the best time to see the blossoms in full bloom will likely be around mid-March.

The Plum Festival continues until the end of March.

Emperor to be hospitalized on Friday for surgery

Emperor Akihito will enter the hospital on Friday, one day before his scheduled coronary bypass surgery.

The Emperor has been diagnosed with angina. Doctors advised him to undergo a bypass operation on 2 of his 3 coronary arteries to increase the blood supply to his heart.

The surgery will take place at the University of Tokyo hospital.

Doctors say if there are no complications, the Emperor will be able to leave the hospital in about 2 weeks.

The Emperor will continue to take part in official duties until Friday while keeping a watch on his health.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 15:51 +0900 (JST)

More water leaks found at Fukushima nuclear plant

More water leaks have been found at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Tokyo Electric Power Company told reporters on Monday morning that it has discovered 2 additional water leaks at the nuclear plant.

This comes after it was announced on Sunday that nearly 8 tons of water was found to have leaked in 14 locations at the plant.

One of the 2 new findings involves about 30 liters of water that has leaked from a device that is removing salt from contaminated water. The other leak is from a valve of a pipe that is injecting water into a reactor.

TEPCO says leaked water has neither spilled out of the plant, nor flowed into the sea.

The utility firm is trying to determine whether water in some of the pipes froze and cracked the pipes, or loosened the pipes' connections.

It plans to quickly implement preventive measures, including carrying out more patrols early in the morning and wrapping insulation around the pipes and other equipment.

The temperature on Monday morning around the plant dropped to minus 8.7 degrees Celsius.

40% of Japanese to be over 65 years old in 2060

A newly-released report predicts that Japan's population will shrink by about 40 million in the next 50 years while about 40 percent of the people will be aged 65 or older.

The report on Japan's expected demographic trends through 2060 was compiled by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.

It says Japan's population will fall below 100 million in 2048 from the 2010 figure of 128 million. In 2060, it says the population will drop to 86 million.

It also says the average life expectancy is likely to expand further to 84.19 for men and 90.93 for women.

The report says the average number of babies born per woman will be 1.35 in 2060. That's slightly up from the previous estimate 6 yeas ago.

The institute says this is because more women who have held off having children are expected to give birth in their late 30's.

It predicts the number of people between the ages of 15 to 64 years will fall by nearly 50 percent to 44 million in 2060.

The previous estimate showed the proportion of the population aged 65 or older will reach 40 percent in 2052.
The speed of aging is expected to slow a little.

The institute says with the aging population and lower birth rates, the decrease in population will continue.

Japan to name 39 uninhabited isles

Japan plans to give official names to 39 uninhabited islands that serve as the basis for the boundary of the country's exclusive economic zone, or EEZ.

The plan emerged after the government found that 7 islands around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea remain nameless in official documents.

In 2010 a Chinese trawler collided with two Japan Coast Guard patrol ships in Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands.

The Japanese government says it plans to strengthen control of the key islands by officially naming them. The step is also designed to clearly demonstrate Japan's EEZ border to other nations and at home.

The government is asking local authorities what the islands are called in their areas.

It plans to decide the names and put them on maps and sea charts by the end of March after consulting agencies concerned.

Of Japan's more than 6,000 remote islands, most are uninhabited. Some have no agreed upon names.