不動庵 碧眼録

武芸と禅を中心に日々想うままに徒然と綴っております。

The report of the earthquake

Since the earthquake happened, my situation was changed not a little.

I would like to introduce about the real situation in Japan especially for my foreign friends.

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My office March 11, 2011. Just after the earthquake.

【The Earthquake Early Warning system】

There is Earthquake Early Warning system in Japan. When earthquake happen, the sensors which is installed by Meteorological Agency catch the Primary wave. In a second, the warning is announced automatically. The citizen can know a warning dozens of seconds when an earthquake arrives at it ago. Japan have been using this system for 4 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake_Early_Warning_(Japan)

When the warning is indicated, the earthquake is not small.

10-15 seconds is very short, but I can say better than nothing.

I think this system is used only Japan now.

【The earthquake】

When I heard the warning, I was working in the office. We soon left the office.

Then the ground was shaking little by little. This case, the term of shaking is much longer than usual. During the term, shaking was getting strong which I have never had before like this.

In Japan there is the Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Meteorological_Agency_seismic_intensity_scale

In my life (41 years), 5-lower level is maximum. But this earthquake is 6-lower. It was really strong. Actually, it is almost difficult to stand on the ground at that time. Most of Japanese houses are very strong for earthquake. Therefore, I saw only the roof tile of very old houses are fallen. That is the only big damage near my company. Our office got mess as below picture.

We soon close the office and we went back to home. Fortunately, there is nothing problem in my house. At that time , I really thanks to Japanese house!

Just for in case, I went childcare center where my son is there. That facility is a part of elementary school. This elementary school is latest building in my city, therefore, it is strong for big earthquake.

Citizen

Next week after the earthquake, people was getting to buy fuel, food, something for emergency much more than usual. Of course, such a big earthquake was nothing like usual. But most of people were living almost normally. I felt. Only the problem was it was difficult to get the fuel. In Japan, we have plenty of petrol, but petrol plant was stopped for few days for investigation of earthquake, and a lot of tanker trucks were moved to Tohoku area. That is only the reason we didn't have enough petrol in these a week. Unfortunately, silly citizen was crazy to buy such a thing. But most of citizen was nothing like panic. Of course, the security condition in the city was nothing different from normal condition. We worried about this disaster, but nobody is try to escape panic and lost mind. We were just trying to back to normal life. After a week, petrol is supplied as usual.

【Aftershock】

Usually, so many aftershocks are happen after big earthquake. Even now, we felt 1-2 aftershock. But the volume and level of aftershock is getting weak day by day. Some of the sensor of The Earthquake Early Warning system doesn't work well now because this system is designed for specific area. This earthquake happened in wide area. I think aftershock will getting small.

【Nuclear】

Only the nuclear issue obstacles to the restoration. We have no idea when they solve it. But it seems getting better little by little. Some of people blame the electric power company, Most of news telling almost correctly. But the ignorance of people makes chaos. I wish simply clear news can lead good public opinion.

【Public Survice】

Some of public facilities are closed in evening for saving electrical power. Or, some of public facilities are saved for evacuee. Therefore, some of sports and martial arts training is closed now.

I wish you can feel the situation in Japan by this report. We are still in very difficult situation. But we will never disappoint.

SD110331 Hekishusai