1. Tohoku, East Kanto Earthquake, Tsunami Nuclear Reactor damage report
Earthquake of Magnitude 9 and Tsunami of highest 16 m hit
Tohoku 6 prefecture ( Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata Miyagi, Fukushima)
and north of Kanto district (Ibaragi and Tochigi) on the coast line of
35,226km . on 11th. of March. Tsunami destroyed many coastal towns in
Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefecture and took away thousands of lives
in 10 minutes. This is the update progress report after Tsunami.
.
Update report is as follows:
I. Damage Report ( Casualties figure)
II. Nippon Come back Report ( Recovery News)
III. Fukushima Development
Updated Damage Figure
Updated number of damage in 3 prefecture out of 8 prefectures
particularly on Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima.
Missing and death number based on National Police Agency on
2011/03/31
Prefecture Death Missing Total % Coast Coastal Pref. Coast
Casualties towns population population line
Iwate 3349 4544 7893 2.55 12 309,466 1,330,530 710km
Miyagi 6959 6927 13886 0.81 15 1,708,963 2,347,975 842km
Fukushima 1049 4798 5847 0.11 10 529,867 2,028,752 167km
Total 1135 16269 27626 1 37 2,545,596 5,707,257 35,236km
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Total casualties are over 27,626 including death(11357) and missing
(16269) in 10 minutes of Tsunami after the earthquake in 11 th. of march.
Currently, there are 170,000 people spending shelter life according to
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
2. statistics reported National Police on March 31st 2011 . Total number of
casualties will be expected to raise as time goes by.
Although 2 survivors we found after 9 days, it is almost desperate to find
survivors after 20 days of earthquake. Identification and collecting the
bodies are getting harder and harder as time goes by and many
municipalities had to take actions either buries bodies or transfer them to
ceremony houses in other municipalities for cremation since their city’s
capacity of funeral house are damaged and beyond capacity. Weather
forecast tomorrow is much warmer in Tohoku as spring comes with the
lowest temperature of 1st or 2nd centigrate partly rains but still expect to
have spring snow in next few days. Everyday number of casualties are
rising in police report as search operation goes on. However, nobody can
enter the vicinity of 5 to 10 km of nuclear reactors except for nuclear
special forces, therefore we cannot identify the accurate figure of casualties
Tsunami particularly in Fukushima. Today, Tokyo nuclear special police o
arrives in Fukushima for search operation in the neighborhood towns of near
nuclear reactor in radiation proof attire after 20 days of Tsunami, which is
very late for any rescue or search operation.
US has sent more than 12,000 army, navy and marine forces for
massive humanitarian operation called TOMODACHI trying to support
search operation in the ocean, send relief goods from the air, helping to
clearing the towns currently buried and completely destroyed by Tsunami
covered by mud and sands with logs, piece of houses, cars, recked ships, and
huge amount of garbages left behind .
Pls. see my friend Mr. Matsumoto’s photos in the google for Kamaishi, Iwate
prefecture as one of the town hitted by Tsunami..
https://picasaweb.google.com/yshyk110/pAfIrI?authkey=Gv1sRgCLD
kpu2GmMK7cg&feat=directlink#
Town has already been cleaned and recovered from the time I have
visited on 17th. and 18th. of March.
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
3. .
Photograph in 18th of March in the morning.
US TOMODACHI OPERATION!!!!
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
4. http://www.google.co.jp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzDLRAuZJA4&feature=related
US help was beyond our expectation and all the Japanese people were
very impressed with the massive operation and mobility of US rescue and
search operation..
Number of Shelters in Tohoku area: 2052
Population living in shelter: 172,415 on March 31st.
down from 240,000 in March 23 rd.
On 31st news, Minami Sanriku town in Miyagi prefecture, where 9000 people
are spending in the shelter and 3877 Houses of 70% of total town houses of
5574 are destroyed. Mayor has decided to relocate one third of population
under the shelter to Yamagata prefecture, neighboring prefecture not
damaged by Tsunami. Will they be dispersed after the temporary relocation
and not come back to the home? I am sure old people would like to come
home because all their life were built in the communities. However, it will be
very hard for younger generation to find the job in the area after their fishery
boat are totally gone. Usually fishery will be the easiest business to develop
in coastal town anywhere in the world as long as fishery boat remains. It is
hard to redevelop the once devastated field for old farmers and old fishermen
without fishery boat. As we are industrial nation, local manufacturers are
critical to keep the area to support town economy. They have to meet the
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
5. local community hope for the future. Three Tsunami has destroyed 100
years of our father and grandfather’s long and hard efforts to build our
nation in just 10 minute.
Today, Miyagi prefecture only estimated figure of their economic loss higher
than 2 trillion JPY by itself. More than 90% of fishery boat and almost all
142 fishery ports in coastal towns of Miyagi were destroyed and estimated
years of recovery of fishing industry is expected to be more than 10 years.
This economic figure is expected to rise once we see the total picture of
casualties and damage in the area. I would like to give more clear picture
of economic damage in each area in my next report.
Three high schools in Miyagi on coastal towns will be relocated since there is
no way they can open their school in its location. As you can see, schools are
anchors for the community and it will be very hard to sustain the community
after this destruction. US forces are clearing the one school building per
day on the coastal towns of three prefectures in addition to opening many
destroyed port, too.
.
Fukushima has other issue, more complex and deep issue. Currently 30 km
from the nuclear reactors in Fukuoka are evacuating in the house or move to
another location. Newsy ceremony took place in celebrityhotel in the center
of Tokyo, ceased its operation today and will open 700 rooms of Akasaka
Prince Hotel Tower for 1600 people evacuated from Fukushima prefecture
close to Nuclear reactors from April 1st. for three months..
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
6. :
http://www.sannichi.co.jp/kyodo/news2.php?genre=Economics&newsitemid=2011033
101000545
20,000 population of Futaba city, Fukushima were forced to relocated due to
nuclear reactors radiation concern and being transferred to Saitama school
as another shelter. Temporary Housing development is urgent for people
staying in shelter due to the mounting stress of not having any privacy.
We need to give a life back to survivors in Tsunami by giving the new places
to live instead of providing temporary housings. However, it takes time to
find the location to build temporary housing, since foundation of the area are
totally destroyed and hard to find the land for temporary housing. In
addition, psychological support to physical support is needed for survivors of
Tsunami living in the shelter. “ I do not want to see the Ocean again. Sea
took my family, my house and my life away”. According to the government
of Japan, 70% wants to go back to old neighborhood and do not want to be
apart from each other in the shelter, since all the survivors at least share
the hardship and sadness of losing their family or friends and can support
each other..
II. Nippon Come back Report
We have no choice for serious population drain from TOHOKU after this
crisis. Due to its cold and snowy climate, Tohoku lifestyle has never been
easy, however this weather raised and nurtured diligent, patient, quiet but
gutsy people. In this historical and unprecedented crisis, Tohoku people are
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
7. calm, help each other, not cry not yell and not give up their hope for future.
They just share the hardship.
Infrustrusture come back
After tsunami, government of Japan have to spend 10 to 25 trillion yen for
Tohoku recovery. We do not know how much is needed to reconstruct the
area. I have full confidence in Tohoku and their future. Mayor of Noda,
Kamaishi phoned me 3 days ago and told me “ Koko-san, we can come
back. After Tsunami, we had no food, no heat, no electricity, but we have
helped each other and survived for many days without support. I am
only thinking ahead and do whatever I can do for the best of the people. So
many people come and help us and we are only thinking about recovery. We
need the houses. for survivors of Tsunami to regain strength and resume
the human life again. We are united and never give up our dream.”
Mainichi News, Mayor of Kamaishi in firefighter’s uniform.
Now I see people’s eyes in only positive light at the bottom of life. I am
happy to report amazing progress and recovery of infrastructure after 20
days of Tsunami. This is the first report of recovery.
Road Recovery
Japan has lived with natural disaster in the last 100 years. MLIT
(Ministry of Land, Infrustructure, Transport and Tourism) reacted first and
fast in order to recover the land and ocean transportation first for relief
operation. They are probably the most effective and efficient organization
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
8. at the time of natural disaster crisis in Japan. 679.5 km of Tohoku
highwaywere completely recovered between Kawaguchi to Aomori by 18 th
with their 24 hours of non stop work of road reconstruction.
March 11 to March 17 photo by Nexco East Japan
After National highway recovery in inland, National road recovery efforts
on the coast are going on on the coastal line but it faces a lot of difficulties
first since dredging, removing the muds have to come first place. Recovery
of road transportation will help smooth relief operation.
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
9. Above map shows the sign of construction going on.
(TRAIN)
Many Trains disappeared in Tsunami are reported in the news coverage
(Pls. see the below picture). After Tsunami on 11th. Tohoku Shinkansen
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
10. line temporary suspended their operation, but recovery and comeback of r
asahi.com
Miyagi pref. Minami sanrikucho
Railway system was very swift and quick. .
Between Ohmiya station to Iwate, approximately in the distance of 536km,
we found 470 electric poles are damaged, 100s bridges damage, 20 rail lines
are destroyed and found 1100 damages of earthquake and Tsunami
including 940 parts between Nasushiobara to Morioka.
March 15th. JR resumed the operation between Tokyo-Nasushiobara.
March 22nd. JR resumed the operation between Morioka and Shinaomori.
March 23rd. JR resumed the operation between Nasushiobara and
Fukushima.
By the beginning of April, all the JR line will be opened.Following photo is to
feature JOBN line in Hitachi nakaCity in following photo.
http://www.coza4.com/wp/?attachment_id=4451
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
11. Port Recovery
Japan is island nation. Its economy started from sea shipping and ports
play the critical role in the development of economy. Kamaishi relief aids
were recovered first from the ocean and shipping could deliver the relief
goods and construction equipment from ocean in less on 16 th after 5 days of
Tsunami. By the time we arrive on 18th, already port is open to deliver the
relief products from ocean.
nikkei news
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
12. (ELECTRICITY recovery)
37 communities on the coast, Tohoku electricity company has been working
non-stop on rebuilding the electric pole every single days to resume
electricity. (see following picture)
Photo by Ikushima Kentaro (Mainichi news)
Sankei News
Housing Come back
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
13. In March 30th. Alreday 3255 housing are built and 45 are under construction
today for people evacuated in shelter. Kamaishi, Nippon Steel corporate
town in Iwate prefecture with the populaion of 39,000 lost more than 1200
people either dead or missing with 10,000 population out of houses, mayor
Noda told me that at least they need 5000 temporary housing are needed to
resume their normal life in community. .Government of Japan (MLIT )is
planning to provide 30,000 housing in 2 month and plan to develop
additional 30,000 in 3 months to respond to those request. . Governor of each
prefecture plan to order 8800 housing in Iwate, 10,0000 in Miyagi, and
14,000 in Fukushima are as minimum number of housing required.
Also tohoku people moved in to 1700 rooms in government housing and 430
rooms in semi-government housing.
47 news.jp
Business Come Back
Japanese manufactures are quire resilient and strongly fighting back to the
damage of earthquake and resumed the operation
SMC in KAMAISHI, Iwate
SMC was the fast company to come back in Kamaishi located in Iwate
prefecture with more than 1200 people missing of dead with 9000 people lost
the house. They are the first to build 100 houses for employees and
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
14. currently resumed their capacity of operation to 70%. Despite the
shortage of electricity, they use the emergency of shortage of electric power
and will be in full manufacturing by beginning of April.
Nissan, IWAKI, FUKUSHIMA
Carlos Ghone President of Nissan visited Iwaki Factory in Fukushima to
resume the operation in mid Arpil and will be in full operation in June.
Yomiuri online
Hitachi, located( Hitachi city, Ibaragi)
Hitachi will resume the full operation by April. Currently Turbin
operation is recovered by 90%, Motor is by 80%, Electric Generator is 50 to
60% recovered its opearation.
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
15. Furukawa
Alpus Company (Iwaki, Fukushima)
Providing electronics equipment located in Iwaki city, Fukushima prefecture
is recovered from damage and resumed the full operation.
We see more Japanese business come back in next month.
III Fukushima
Now Fukushima is world concern and Japanese government has formally
requested the technical support from French nuclear company called AREVA
on 31st. of March. CEO of Areva visited Japan yesterday for the meeting
with METI minister Kaieda and showed her confidence in controlling the
situation and treatment of the contaminated water after her inspection to
nuclear reactor in Fukushima. They are planning to provide the robots and
machinery which can work in nuclear radiation contaminated area near the
reactors.
http://www.nikkei.com/tech/news/article/g=96958A9C9381949EE1...
Fukushima’s worst scenario :
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
16. Nuclear Reactor uncontrollable
⇒ Explosion
⇒ Radiaion contamination spread wide area
Fukushima’s Best Scenario :
Drainage of contaminated water
⇒ Electricity come back
⇒ Cooling system come back
⇒ Stop the nuclear reactor in cold temprature
III.2 Observation of Fukushima Nuclear Reactor
All the media attention is focusing on Fukushima nuclear reactor’s
potential development and its threat to the people living in vicinity of
Fukushima and also Tokyo. Some airline cut back the flight scheduled to
arrinve in TOKYO Narita airport due to the fear of international
passengers and crew in Japan . Picture of Tsunami victims body on the
beach in TV screen has been accelerating the tension among audience.
On globe, map of Japan is quite small and it does not look like Tokyo is
far from Fukushima but actually distance between Fukushima and Tokyo
are 227km and for us it is quite far. Ironic to the world panic, we are
spending very quiet life in Tokyo after few days of earthquake. .
Nuclear radiation is invisible and high level of knowledge required to fully
comprehend the gravity of the damage on the physical health. I am not a
nuclear scientist and not qualified with the hazardous effect of nuclear
reactor on human body. My father was born in the border of Hiroshima
and my aunt was from Hiroshima therefore we are particularly sensitive
to potential hazard of radiation in measurement of micro SV figures,
which many people are not familiar with. All I can say is the level of
radiation volume in Tokyo are much lower and minor than flying on the
plane to go to NY or having X ray in the hospital. Anywhere in the world,
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
17. people are exposed to 2.4 mSV natural radiation. For example micro SV of
radiation reported in Tokyo is only 0.1 mSV/ hour. Below 200 mSV/hour
is not considered to be hazardous. Serious danger for the body is over 3000
mSV with death rate of 50% in 30 days and 7000 mSV exposure would
lead the death of 100% people. Just for your info. chest X ray is 50 mSV
in total and Tokyo NY fligh round trip passenger is exposed to 200 msV.,
Sensational coverage will attract the attention of audience and media
essentially has to serve its purpose of sharing the truth on tim and
sometimes conjecture to bet on the worst possible scenario would cater to
the demand of public..
Currently, electricity came to 1-4 nuclear reactor power contry center and
Nuclear reactors are under full control again by joint efforts of firemen, SDF
and the US .military. US special marine forces are on the way to look after
the reactors. Weather forecast is good and vivid cloud in the sky, bit like the
scientific fiction movie... Cooling nuclear reactor with water will bring the
stability of nuclear reactor . Is am sure Japanese government is competent
in controlling the situation with US military help. With regard to Disposal of
the radiation contaminated water, highly toxic water will be treated properly
with the technical support of French nuclear company called ALVA.
Japanese Prime Minister finally took off his uniform at the time of natural
disaster and changed his attire to the business suit today to be ready for his
recovery plan of TOHOKU. LDP, opposition party announced to join the
coalition and help ruling party’s efforts to recover Japan from disaster.
Only issues which we cannot solve now and also in the future are deep scars
left behind to people in Fukushima. At least 20,000 population in Futaba
city cannot and will not be able to go home to go back. No bank note, nothing.
However, Futaba city government, corporate town of Toden, which
depending its 90% of economy of town on nuclear reactor just passed their
fiscal budget of 2011 in Saitama arena without their place to stay. They are
moved to Saitama school as next evacuation shelter. Mayor told to . the
press that “Government has to take responsibility” We are not sure how
government can take responsibility of all the displaced people’s life. It is
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
18. going to be astronomical figures for TODEN and government. This cost our
generation and future generation has to bear as long as we live.
Toden, Tokyo electric power company, Government of Japan or even media
including me everybody underestimate the Tsunami damage. We lost
everything in 10 minutes. Toden thought it was manageable and controllable
considering the precedent Tsunami damage despite President Obama’s
special concern and offer to help right after TSUNAMI. Fukushima
nuclear power plant provide one third of electricity in TOKYO. We are all
determined to save energy and going to be ready for hot summer in 2011.
We expect Japanese economy will slow down due to shortage of the power
temporarily. Some relocation of production facility and industrial
restructure happen. I cannot imagine their wealth, land, lives, disappear in
10 minutes. But at least we are lucky to be able to live and survive in this
tragedy and we are happy to help each other and share their difficulties.
I sincerely appreciate all the help to my country at the time of crisis. Our
ancestors experienced many many crisis and went through big earthquake,
Tsunam, typhoon and big war. We lost everything in natural and human
disaaster but always come back with full strength. Tohoku are famous for
resilient, patient and gutsy. We are behind Tohoku people 100%. I am
sure they will come back by their strong efforts and we always support their
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato
19. strong community leadership and guts to challenge the future.
We are ready to start scratch again, not much different after the war nor
earthquake and would like to rebuild our nation and come back again with
smile. We are optimist in the end. I also strongly believe we can develop
the first new technology to control nuclear reactors perfectly or being
innovative to develop alternative energy source in the future.
We will not forget your warm friendship and kindness at the time of crisis.
You will be my friend for ever. I hope we come back one more time after this
hardship and would like to be the one who give and return to you at the time
of your crisis.
Never Give Up!
N
an kThank you very much for your support and all the
message I receive from the world. I am looking
forward to seeing you and welcoming you in Japan
before too long!!
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Damage Report, Nippon Come back report and Fukushima 2011, 3.31
By Koko Kato