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.