Originally Posted By Malin Ok so we have had a very detailed discussion on the Tokyo Disney Resort. The media is all over whats happening in Northern Japan. But how is Japan's Capital handling the crisis. I see the transportation system is opperating with long delays because of power savings and damaged routes. Plus the Tokyo Stock Exchange is up and trading. But how else is the Capital handling aftermath of the disaster. Are you seeing the panic buying that is happening in the rest of the country over fears of more Earthquakes to come. How bad is the damage, I see even landmarks like the Tokyo Tower has been bent. Are buisnesses starting to return to work yet. And are the many shops and restaurants around famous areas like Ginza, Shibuya and Shinjuku reopening yet? I understand so many still can't get back to work. Does the Govement have a timeline on when it hopes Tokyo will return to some what normality?
Originally Posted By Malin Interesting article in todays Guardian Newspaper. Giving you an impression of what its like to be living and working in Tokyo at the moment. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/14/tokyo-streets-and-shops-empty" target="_blank">http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl...ps-empty</a> "I'm very worried," said Banshu Yoshida, owner of a restaurant in Shiba, a bayside district. "I think the nuclear problem will be sorted out; it's the earthquakes that worry me most, particularly because we're so near the sea." "From what I gather, the threat from the nuclear reactor is minimal, so I have no plans to leave," said William Swinton, director of international business studies at Temple University's Tokyo campus. "Tokyo is sober and there's a feeling that it dodged the bullet, but I'm not lying awake at night worrying. His nonchalance wasn't shared by Ryuichi Suzuki, a taxi driver taking a cigarette break on a near-deserted central Tokyo street. "I went to the supermarket this morning, but by the time I got inside, everything I wanted had gone," he said. "I've never seen anything like it
Originally Posted By Malin I've been reading the boards over on the Trip Advisor website. Someone visited Shinjuku on Monday and gives his observations below. I had a chance to view the situation around Shinjuku area today (March 14, 2011) Many shops are closed, but many are operating with shortened operating hours. Most shops that are open will close at 6 pm. Takashimaya, Odakyu Department stores are closed, as are all Uniqlo outlets. Keio, Isetan, and Marui are open and operating on the abbreviated operating hours. Yodobachi Camera, Bic Camera, and Labi are all open. About 50% of the shops in Omodeyokocho were open. Isetan food floor ‘”depachika” is operating as normal and is fully stocked with grocery, fresh, and prepared foods. The floor was very crowded, but nothing appeared to be sold out. Marui was selling baked bread from a street stand near Studio Alta and doing a robust business. Fast food outlets such as McDonalds, KFC, Gyudon, are all open for business. Banks and ATMs are open and operating. Shinjuku Station was empty at 3:30, with almost no trains operating. Only one train was in the station during the 10 minutes of my observation, a Rinkai Line train heading towards Osaki. I did not observe any Yamanote or other trains in the station. The stoppages have been well publicized, so there were no crowds or confusion in the area. Convenience stores have been wiped out of many consumable items. Water, bakery products, snacks, instant noodles are all sold out. Other items such as oden and nikuman were available. Most vending machines are sold out of water, tea, and energy drinks. Airport buses are running on an ad hoc schedule from the Nishi Shinjuku Bus terminal. Buses are not running from hotels. Many of the planned electric blackouts did not materialize, although TEPCO has announced the No. 5 group of blackouts will occur from 5 pm due to a surge in electric demand at that time. Kashima and Fuji cities (located outside of Tokyo) were indeed blacked out for a short period of time during the peak demand period. Overall, Shinjuku is running at about 50% of a normal day. The lack of transit, combined with restricted retail has reduced the total number of people in the area. A number of aftershocks were felt in the Shinjuku area. The biggest was about 10:00 am, and two more around 3 pm and 4 pm. There was no damage.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Are you seeing the panic buying that is happening in the rest of the country over fears of more Earthquakes to come*** To revisit an "old" topic, I can't really speak for Tokyo but as far as "panic buying" in Chiba is concerned, the shelves are bare for bottled water even today (April 24). Also other drinks are not stocked up like normal (but not totally gone, either, that's an improvement!). Bottled water has been hard to come by for many weeks now. I wonder when things will REALLY return to normal, and I think that will be when the water is back.
Originally Posted By Roger55 At the store I shop at in the heart of Tokyo, customers are still being asked to limit there water purchase to one bottle. Stock is lower than usual, but was never sold out. I'm guessing these days in Tokyo, it is more of a supply issue as opposed to hoarding.
Originally Posted By SuperDry What's the current state of tap water? I thought that at least in Tokyo, there were only a few days when the water supply spiked above the "not recommended for infants" level but otherwise has been okay. <<< I wonder when things will REALLY return to normal, and I think that will be when the water is back. >>> Is tap water still at unsafe levels for consumption in Chiba?
Originally Posted By Mr X ***What's the current state of tap water? I thought that at least in Tokyo, there were only a few days when the water supply spiked above the "not recommended for infants" level but otherwise has been okay*** According to all reports I've read, it is fine. I've been drinking it myself without much concern. We have, however, been giving bottled water to Little X out of an abundance of caution. This requires the assumption that the government might possibly be lying, just like they lied when they called the Fukushima situation a "level 5" when they knew damned well it was a level seven, and claimed they did so partly "to avoid a panic"...surely water contamination on a wide scale would cause just such a panic they are so concerned about. Granted, that is venturing into tin foil hat territory, but as I said we're not taking any chances just in case. ***Is tap water still at unsafe levels for consumption in Chiba?*** Not according to any official or legitimate scientific reports I've been able to find. And, based on careful research into all sources I can find, both media and scientific, I do tend to believe the water is fine. But again, when you've got a seven year old "unreasonable" precautions do spring to mind. I'm sure that's what's on the minds of everyone else too, thus the continuing shortages even at this advanced date. (of course, there is the possibility that the situation in Fukushima could deteriorate, too, which is another reason people are being cautious I'm sure)
Originally Posted By SuperDry You said: <<< Not according to any official or legitimate scientific reports I've been able to find. And, based on careful research into all sources I can find, both media and scientific, I do tend to believe the water is fine. >>> but also said: <<< I wonder when things will REALLY return to normal, and I think that will be when the water is back. >>> I really don't mean to pick apart your words, especially since I may be reading them more closely than you chose them. You say that both the official reports, and your own informed opinion based on personal research, is that the water right now is fine to drink. Yet, you think things won't return to normal until the water is "back." Actually, I think I just answered my own question: I originally thought you meant "back" in terms of tap water once again being safe to drink. But now I think what you meant was when bottled water was "back on the shelves" in the stores in normal quantities, without rationing. That makes a lot of sense. I can see how product shortages, especially with something as essential as drinking water, could really contribute to the "under siege" feeling.
Originally Posted By Mr X <<< I wonder when things will REALLY return to normal, and I think that will be when the water is back. >>> What I meant by that is when the water is on the shelves and fully stocked I think for me that will feel like things are "normal", rather than this constant reminder in the form of empty shelves that things are still bad (even if just an irrational panic sort of "bad"). Sorry for the confusion.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***But now I think what you meant was when bottled water was "back on the shelves" in the stores in normal quantities, without rationing*** This.
Originally Posted By SuperDry Assuming that the Fukushima nuclear issue is brought under control to a cold shutdown, even if it takes a year to do so, I wonder when the rest of life in most of Japan will get back to normal. Tokyo will suffer a projected 20% power shortage this summer. This means that escalators are likely to remain turned off in most places, lighting levels reduced greatly, and AC thermostats this summer will be turned up making it a "long, hot summer." Here's an interesting video I found that shows you a "before and after" comparison of lighting levels in Tokyo. In normal times, parts of Tokyo already looked like something out of a SciFi movie from the future. Now, it looks a bit like a post-apocalyptic SciFi movie. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-ChRZunYaw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...hRZunYaw</a> View in full screen, at least 720HD for maximum effect. Come fall, power rationing will probably be unnecessary, and everyone can turn back on the lights and escalators. What I haven't heard anyone talk about is "what about next summer?" It's my understanding that the Fukushima nuclear complex was one of the largest in the world, with 6 large reactors (not all are leaking at the moment). That's a huge amount of generating capacity to replace. As Japan is finding out, there's not a whole lot that can be done on such a large scale in a matter of weeks or months, but what about in a year? What are the projections for next year?
