I recenly went to the Safety Life Learning Center in Tokyo near Kinshichou Station.

This was my second time to go. This is a center where you get to learning information about Japan’s natural disasters such as Earthquakes, Typhoons, Tsunamis, Storms, and Floods.
I am gald I got to go a second time especially after the Great Touhoku Earthquake.
They gave us alot of information about what happened in Japan.

Just to keep some facts in mind. Here in Tokyo the strenght of the earthquake was 4.0
in Touhoko 200 miles north of Tokyo it was a 6.0 to 7.0 At a 7.0 you can not physically stand as the shaking is so tense.

In parts of Chiba, such as Funabashi and Tokyo, soil liquefication happened. This is when water and soil are shaken around by enorumous pressure and causes water to swell up from underground. Essentially, this means quicksand, which will destory buildings foundations.

The earthquake had some much power it moved all of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, 8 feet.
The Great Touhoku Earthquake had the equivalent power of 9,320 gigatons of TNT, or approx. 600 million times the engery of the Hiroshima bomb.

Now about the Touhoku Tsunami.
A tsunami is not a single on rushing wave, that is confused often with a tidal wave.
In Japanese a tsunami more accurately translates to a train of waves. It is continous waves that leap over the previous causing immense destruction. While the upper wave rushes over the lower wave it creates a powerful undercurrent destroying most anything and moving objects hundreds of miles.
The Touhoku Tsunami was one of the five most powerful recorded since 1900. In some parts of Japan the height of the tsunami reached up to 6 meters which is 22 ft. 40% of Japan’s cost is lined with anti-tsunami barriers, however in many cases the tsunami wave surged in so strong, so high it simply passed over or crumbled these anti-tsunami barriers.
In parts of Miyako, Iwate, Tokyo U of Marine Science and Technology found that the Touhoku Tsunami’s run up height of 38meters which is 127 ft.

I have heard many remarks why didn’t people run away, get away, etc.

Let me tell you something, you cannot physically out run a tsunami.
In movies you may have seen this, but this is Hollywood make believe and not reality.

You have seen when you throw a pebble in pond how effortlessly water absorbs, transfers, and carries the energy given to it. Now you see that it does not create one ripple, but multiple ripples which is like the effect of a tsunami, multiple waves overlapping. A tsunami in the ocean can absorb an earthquake’s energy and cause water to travel up to 800km or 500mph that is a fast as a jet. This means that the tsunami reached Sendai, Iwate, and Fukushima in a very small amount of time.
I remember sitting outside with a friend, on their phone, watching only 15 minutes after the earthquake and seeing the first waves of the tsunami begin to hit Sendai, with people already on top of trucks. I remember seeing a guy on top of his 18wheeler waving for help as the river bed was disappearing as the next surge of waves were getting ready to come again. Remember a human being can not stand up in 2 ft of water rushing over 15mph.

When a tsunami reaches land is slows rapidly, but travels an average of 37 mph. I am sure that the Touhoku Tsunami was much faster than this. I rememember on seeing NHK many times people try to out run a tsunami in their cars. Some got very lucky, however many were not as fortunate.

They have a simulation room for each so that you get to experience it and they show you how to survive it. At the end of the tour they sell any safety equipment you want to buy for all situations.

This time they added the flood room. This shows you how powerful water is.
They have a door with different levels of water pressure against it to show how difficult it is to open a door.
We were challegned to open a door with 6 inches of water. It was hard, but completely do able.
However, they upped the water pressure to 2 feet.
I had to use all my strength and endurance to open that door. And this is the benefit with out rush water coming in on me. I literally pried the door open enough to stick my body between the door and me and then literally put my feet on the frame of the door and my hands on the door and pushed out on both ends to get the door open. This is why some people could not escape their homes.

- Our guide showing us the Water Door.

-Nelly trying to open it.

Another question I heard alot people ask is why didn’t people get out of their cars when the tsunami hit them. It’s not that they felt safer in the car it is that they could not phsyically open their door. They did the same test with water pressure against a car door. It is much harder to push a door open when you are in a seated position than standing up. I literally dug my @$$ into the seat and pushed with my body weight just to get the door open in only 2 ft of water pressing against my car door. Also many Japanese cars are Kei-cars (look it up on wiki) which are incredibly small and leight weight which meant many cars were easily carried away.

This is still a lot of aftermath going on here in Japan with the Tohouku Earthquake.

The sad thing is the Japanese government needs to get the lead out and start doing something.
Most of the time when I watch TV they are still debating what they should be doing.
Sadly, its like America with Dems. vs. Reps where all they do is argue and accomplish nothing.
However, here in Japan it is the Old Vanguard Politicians vs. the New Generation of Politicians.
The Old Vanguard still wants time to find and make a decision that will make everyone happy.
(Some of the Old Vanguard are still proud to say that their lineage and bloodline comes from Samurai, Daimyo, and Shogun of old from the Edo Jidai and feel they are more fit to rule and be politicians than others)

The New Generation want to implement plans to help Sendai area and the refugees immedately and worry about the expense later.
(While the New Gen. is a little radical [for Japan] they do not have the connections the Old Vanguard does with the monoplies and top dogs in Japan and makes it harder for them to gain support, however, I feel many people support their ideals, but are concerned is it apporiate [very important for Japanese to be socially acceptable implemented plan] and what will this change bring.)
This has been going on for a few months and I expect it to continue.

With the Fukushima nuclear power plant, I expect that to take a year before any action is
done on this the Old Vanguard seem particularly stubborn.

I ask you continue to support Japan! And if you see any ney sayers you send them to me!

- The Car Door Water Test

-Mighty and me try on the firemen outfits.

-Nelly and Soe getting ready to perform CPR.

-Everyone’s picture at the Safety Life Learning Center

Japanese really like Harry Potter. Since this is the last movie they went all out for it. This is the Harry Potter Advertisement in Shinjuku Station, it is part of the underground tunnel leading from Keio Station/Department Store. When you get close you can see the Harry Potter faces and when you are far away only the dialogue. They also put music boxes hidden around to play the Harry Potter theme music to give it a cool echo effect. Watch and Enjoy!

I recently got accepted into the JET Programme!
I have been incredibly busy preparing for this.

Of course ,when I found out my placement, I was quite shocked.

I will be placed in the Prefecture of Ponies, Cabbages, Konjac.
The Prefecture of the 3 Great Mountains and the largest river basin that provides over 12million Japanese people with drinkable water.
My prefecture still has an active volcanoe and has one of the most acidic lakes in the world with a PH of 1 thats stronger than lemon or vinegar.
My Prefecture is in the shape of a crane. It is said to never have seen the ocean.
My Prefecture has one of the cutest mascots in Japan. He is a cute little horse. His name is Yuuma chan.

My Prefecture is know around Japan for its strong minded women.
「かかあ天下と空風」”kakaatenka to kara kaze” The women are strong and the wind is empty.

Have you guessed my prefecture yet?
No???

Its GUNMA!!!

I was incredibly excited to know where I will be living. So I immedately checked on Google Earth where Gunma was. It’s one of the few landlocked prefectures in Japan and its only a few hours from Tokyo. However, guess what is right next to Gunma Prefecture.

Gunma borders Fukushima Prefecture on the West side. My luck eh.

Well all those years of reading survival guides, boy scouts, Fallout, Mad Max, Man vs. Wild, and Survivor Man have prepared me to live to the second most radioactive place on the planet.
Chernoybl being #1.

I was a litte suprised to find this out and asked why I was placed in Gunma. Apperently, the fact that I stayed during the Tohoku Earthquake and the Fukushima Genpatsu they figured I would be able to handle living in Gunma as many other ALTs are afraid to or are leaving the prefecture.

The other thing is too I will be teaching English at multiple schools. Sometimes this is regular JET pratice, but in this case I do not know if it is cause recent events.

Regardless, I will be one of the first Gaijin to be teaching at some of Gunma’s Elementary Schools because Japan recently changed the education system and said that 小学生Shougakusei *Elementary Students* need to learn English. In Japan Shougaku is from 1st to 6th grade. So I will be teaching a wide range of students along with working at Junior High as my primary school.

I am super excited to be moving to Gunma next month!!!

When I have more information about my stay and location I will update everyone.

Till next

じゃぁぁぁ　またね！

Sorry everyone I have been incredibly busy the last two weeks with the new semester.

I will continue to write on this blog about my adventures in Japan.
However, I am beginning work on a new blog which will not be a happy go fun yum yum time stories about being a gaijin in Japan.
It will be about the social problems facing the Japanese.
Men and Women, the dropping birthrate, the Fukushima Problem, and more.

This blog is too open and too many people can read it.

If you would like to read my new upcoming blog please leave me a message saying who you are, and how you know me, and leave your email address.

The Tamayan Song!

This Sunday there was a festival in Goutokuji, the next township over from mine, Shimotakaido.
(I still have not idea where that borderline is.)
I did not even know it was happening, until I had run out of bottled water and decide to bicycle over to the 100円Lawson Store and stumbled across it.

Anyway they had a Karate demonstration, along with a bazaar of sellers and vendors.
Especially vegetables seemed to be the theme. Daikons, and lettuce.

I wish I knew what the festival was exactly for, but I never found out.

Anyway here is some of the local kids demonstrating their Karate skills.

-Nice high kick

I don’t know if this guy was licsensed, but this Obaa-chan seemed to enjoy it.

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This next guy really took to his role as cute kitty cosplay cheerleader.
He even spoken in kawaii Japanese.
I think he was trying to get patrons to come inside and try the new tea or beer with a kimchi side dish. He was kind enough to actually let me take a picture of him.

Finally the Mascot of Goutokuji, the white cat named Tamayan.
They even had a song dedicated to him. I wish I knew why he was so important to the people of Goutokuji , they all knew the song and some people who looked to be in their 60s or 70s said they remember as kids singing the Tamayan song.

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- Ta- ma- yan, Ta-ma- yan, Ta-ma Ta-ma yan.

Recently Golden Week was going on in Japan, which means outrageous prices on trips, transportation, and regional specialties that are usually fairly cheap are jacked up for the in flood of tourist.

As a college student, there was no way I could afford to travel far. So for Golden Week in Japan I got as far as Shinakiba Station. There I had been invited to Golden Week BBQ Event. For about $25 or 2,000円 it was all you could eat Yakiniku and Sake. It was quite delicious and I defintely made sure to eat my share of the meat. The Japanese college students seemed more interested in consuming sake and talking about the weather.
(I try to stay away from Japanese and drinking, in Japanese culture it is norm to pour someone else’s drink. With Sake it gets dangerous quick and as being a gaijin=guest and as an American they think I need more sake than the average Japanese person. So they pour extra for me. [I secretly wonder too if they just want to see a gaijin drunk or how much sake it takes. They would be quite disappointed with me.] Also its just rude to not accept, thus becoming drunk quickly. I am not a heavy drinker, actually quite the light weight.)

Eventually, one such sake drinking individual felt the need to relieve himself of his clothes.
(This man was not of our group!　He was in the next one over.)
I orginally posted this on Facebook, but was deemed as wait for it… *Pornographic*
I just assumed everyone has seen a butt, but apperently Japanese mens butts must be very erotic, too erotic for Facebook’s standards.

Anyway here is the infamous picture:

-(I tried to use the “tasteful” pictures here. I am sure no one wants to actually see his Zou-chan)
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As drunk as he was he fell promptly fell over after taking his clothes off and his friends had to help him up.

Strangely everyone just looked, laughed, giggled, or ‘Hontouni hadaka ni naru kana?” I wonder if he is really gonna get naked? Most people also took photos with their iphones or cell phones.
I only took a photo to show everyone, but apperently the Japanese students want to post about the naked man too, I assume.

Let the cuteness drag you back in!

Now that the cute Japanese baby got your attention read below please:

I will start posting updates soon! I wish I had photos for all the events that have happened to me, but sadly they were deleted when my laptop fried.

However, I will start new post this week!!!

-Hakone Checkpoint, I hope they don’t know I am smuggling Starburst from America.

-Can you see the Kanji on the mountain. Its だい。

-Well the scenery is beautiful, try to read the sign. I definetly wanna check out that castle. LoL.

-Mhhhh interesting name for a club. I hope it’s the name of a drink. Picture from Guam.

-I so want this to catch on in America. Ahhh good old Engrish.

Doing fine, the aftershocks have really slowed down. I can only feel them if I am directly touching a wall or sitting in a chair. There has been one or two stong after shocks that have shaken for 30 seconds or so. The situation in Fukushima is getting worse, but it is not Chernobly. The Chernobly nuclear power plant was not made to Western safety standards and had a cheap graphite safety barrier and leaked for a week before Sweden detected radiation and found out the problem and announced it to the world. Fukushima was immedately informed to other nations and Fukushima is technologic built to modern standards with steel barriers to contain radiation. It is also run by the some of the most intelligent people in Japan. We are wearing breathe mask, eating seaweed, and have sealed the rooms and are staying inside to be safe. However, cabin fever does build up and some of the guys and I went outside and played soccer with the Japanese kids for an hour to get outside and have some exercise. I am also taking showers whenever I got out for a long period of time to wash of any radioactive fallout that I may have gotten on me. Yes, you can wash it off and be prefectly fine. There is a big difference between radioactive fallout which is dust and can be in rainwater and then direct radiation in the electromagnetic specturm that is lethal and can not be washed off. That is happening at Fukushima and makes that situation very dangerous. However, I am far enough away that if the wind carries radioactive dust I can wash it off me.

The first picture is Dave and Fiona buying the last custard at the store.

The second picture is Japanese lining up to buy the new shipment of toliet paper. Japanese have bidets, but are trying to conserve water.

-The line continues down the lane

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The third is people at Shinjuku with luggage waiting for buses to go home or to the airport.

The fourth is at the Kabukicho exit, it is showing the hazard zone for radiation from Fukushima.

-More Radiation warnings in Shinjuku Station

The fifth is all the ramen and instant noodles are bought out at the Seiyu.

The sixth is at Shinjuku Station the Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan talking on TV to the Japanese people.

Some of the Densha JR Trains are still not running

Japanese Keisatsu/Police at Shinjuku helping direct people on how to get home and insure calm

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The seventh is the Lawson, a popular convenice store in Japan, has turned off some of its lights to help in saving electricity.


Right now I and some of English Students are not happy with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She is running for re-election in two weeks and seems to be causing in up roar in Germany to secure votes. Because of their media it has effetively scared the German exchange students, including Jamel, to go to Hiroshima where it’s supposedly safer. Chancellor Merkel has also agreed to shut down Germany’s oldest nuclear reactors because of Japan’s events. This is far fatched, Germany does not face the threat of tsunamis and earthquakes like Japan. Also this was the the strongest earthquake in Japan in a century that hit the nuclear plant, the plant did not fail from a technical error or negligence, but from a huge natural disater. My Aunt Donna and her husband both work at a nuclear power plant and have told us the pros and cons of nuclear energy. It is a good energy source and is likely to be used in future to curve our damn for coal and oil power plants. People seem to forget these factories have killed many people around the world too. Their pollution has caused all kinds of lung diseases, smog, and hazardous working conditions as well, but over a 100 years they have become safer to use, but still pump out pollution that is supposedly the cause of global warming. Nuclear power only has a 50 year existence compared to coal and oil. I think nuclear is a reliable energy source, but there will always be some kind of danger from any energy source. this incident was cause by a huge natural disaster, not some loose bolt.

More students have gone home, mostly the girls. There are now 7 out of the 13 originals left. Most students are here for only one semester and have decided to leave home early, I have another semester I need to graduate so I fully plan on staying in Japan.

I have plenty of food and water. The whole radiation thing is being thrown out of proportion in some media and under played in others. Most people dont know you receive more radiation on a 2 hour flight in a plane than you do going through the new airport X-ray machine. People recieve radiation every day when they go outside, use microwaves, talk on cellphones, heck people even pay for it at the tanning salon.

I hate how the foriegn (non-Japanese) media is throwing up the radiation scare to people, yet not contributing anything useful to say. I find it amazing how Korea, China, and other Asian countries which have a rocky history with Japan cause of WWII are helping and devoting whatever they can to this disater and reporting calmly, while Western media is making this a field day for ratings. Rahm Emanuel once said, ” You don’t ever want a crisis to go to waste; it’s an opportunity to do important things that you would otherwise avoid.” I think this is very true right now and the West is using it in a negative light, while Asia is using it to show their support to their fellow Asian nation.
From the BBC Live
1057: Germany’s Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle says that what we are witnessing in Japan is an “apocalypse”. He says the international community must do everything it can to help Japan and adds it may shift Europe’s approach to nuclear power: “After what happened in Japan it cannot be business as usual. This has consequences not only for Germany’s energy policy but it will also have consequences for the international community’s stance as well as the debate in Europe, and that’s how we will now approach it.”

It’s amazing how somebody across the world, can claim that Japan is suffering an apocalypse when they are not even here. I am in Tokyo 200kilometers away from Fukushima and much closer than the Guido. I went to Shinjuku today, it was not an apocalyptic scene, Japanese people were clamly going to work and buying grocceries. I can not speak for Fukushima, but the rest of Japan seems to be stable and orderly not in a scene of chaos desribed by the German Foriegn Minister.


Much of the media is showing inaccurate pictures as well one English speaking station showed the oil refineries burning, but on the headlines said nuclear power plant.That is a major screw up and probably has people in the West thinking the Fukushima problem is worse than it is.

If many people are worrying about radiation they should go to this site: http://www.nationalterroralert.com/radiationinfo/
It is the Homeland Security webpage on disasters. It’s more accurate than the media.

We are concerned about the radiation, we have sealed up our rooms with duct tape in case of any happens. We actually went outside yesterday to the local playground and played soccer with some of the Japanese kids.

I think some of the students are glued to the TV and watching it all the time has driven them kind of crazy.

I think that America and Europe should be more involved in helping Japan out during this crisis.

Nihon Daigaku seems very concerned about us and has Kumagai Sensei come everyday to check on us.

The only thing I am upset about is the media and people on Facebook. I am quite suprised how many people on Facebook are complaing about stupids things like NFL Players are so greedy they want more money to play or something equally unimportant, while Japan faces an immense disaster. It is also quite sad how many people have actually contacted me to check on me. It makes me wonder how blind some people might be to the world.

I am doing fine, I just wish people would not believe everything said on the TV and form their own decision or look up information instead of relying soley on the media. Well the situation is quite dangerous and real, especially to the people in Fukushima, it is not Chernobly or the Apocalypse.

If you have any more questions feel free to ask.