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The ninth month after the earthquake starts !


eight months later -
nothing can erase
these memories





. Remember March 11, 2011, 14:46 　


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. . Joys of Japan .

Join the Friends on Facebook !




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Gabi reports:

It is now eight since the great earthquake, tsunami and reactor crises.

. News from October 2011 .





quote
Ken Watanabe Opens Artists For Japan Charity Auction
Contemporary artist Takashi Murakami partnered with Christie’s Auction House yesterday to hold “Artists for Japan,” a specially-curated charity auction to benefit Japan earthquake and tsunami relief.
Terahata Yumi
Oscar-nominated actor Ken Watanabe opened the “Artists for Japan” sale with a reading of a Japanese poem, selected especially for the occasion. Mr. Watanabe’s appearance came with the cooperation of the Japanese website and initiative Kizuna311, which was launched after the disasters to offer moral and emotional support to those affected.

The November 9th sale in New York featured donated works from noted contemporary artists including Murakami, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Yoshitomo Nara and Cindy Sherman among others.

source : www.looktothestars.or


We wish to express our sentiments of deepest sorrow and solidarity to the victims of Tohoku Kanto Earthquake.
Our prayers and thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by the disaster, and we pray from our hearts that everybody will peacefully overcome this hardship, and return to normalcy.
We are saddened to see and hear the news of the devastating earthquake in the Tohoku and Kanto area, and we couldn't resist but ask ourselves,
"what can we do to help earthquake and tsunami victims?".

source : kizuna311.com/english.html


絆［kizuna］
source : kizuna311.com/


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Bulletins from NHK Online

source : www3.nhk.or.jp

8 months passed since the March disaster
It's been 8 months since the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. But there's still a long way to go before full-fledged reconstruction is possible.
Police say 19,488 people have been confirmed dead or remain missing as of November 10th.
The number of those confirmed dead is 9,501 in Miyagi Prefecture, 4,665 in Iwate Prefecture, and 1,604 in Fukushima Prefecture. 1,995 people remain missing in Miyagi, 1,427 people in Iwate, and 226 in Fukushima.

Reconstruction plans for the disaster-hit areas have been drawn up in 8 municipalities in Iwate, and 7 in Miyagi.
The government's newly established rebuilding subsidies and other funds will shoulder all costs for relocation of residents to higher ground or inland regions.
But the locals will need more time to form a consensus on the mass relocations and reconstruction projects.
Also, no criterion has been set to assess the value of flooded land the government will purchase from owners.


Tsunami victims remembered in Minamisanriku
Eight months after the March 11th earthquake and tsunami on Friday, the people of Minamisanriku town in Iwate Prefecture are offering prayers for the victims.
The disaster destroyed many of the town's homes and left 900 residents dead or missing.
A flower altar was erected in front of the town's disaster preparedness center, which had completely collapsed. About 30 town officials died there when the tsunami struck.
A volunteer worker who came to offer prayers said the town is still full of debris, a testament to the fierceness of the tsunami. He added that he wants to do all he can to help rebuild the town.
With winter approaching, the town is rushing to make preparations against the cold at its temporary housing facilities. The morning low on Friday was only 2.9 degrees Celsius.
Work is under way at a temporary housing complex in the Togura district to insulate the walls and install double-paned windows.
A woman who lives there said she will be careful about her health, as it will get even colder in the coming days.


High level of radioactivity in Tochigi mushrooms
Radioactive cesium exceeding government standards has been detected in mushrooms grown outdoors in Tochigi Prefecture, about 120 kilometers from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The Tochigi prefectural government said on Thursday that it had measured 649 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram of kuritake mushrooms grown outdoors in a city in the prefecture. This level exceeds the government limit of 500 becquerels.
Four other cities in Tochigi Prefecture, southwest of the nuclear plant, have already refrained from shipping their mushrooms.
The prefecture asked the city to voluntarily refrain from shipping its mushrooms and to recall those already on the market.Earlier this month, levels of radioactive cesium exceeding the government standard were also found in shiitake mushrooms grown in Yokohama, about 260 kilometers from the nuclear plant.


Cabinet endorses decontamination plan
The Japanese Cabinet has endorsed a basic plan on cleaning up radioactive fallout from the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Under the Environment Ministry's plan, decontamination work will be carried out in areas where the annual radiation exposure reaches one millisievert or more.
The central government will be responsible for decontaminating the no-entry and evacuation zones around the troubled plant. Radiation levels are especially high in these areas.
In other affected areas, the clean-ups will be planned and performed by local municipalities, with the central government bearing the cost.
The plan also calls for cutting radiation levels approximately in half within two years in areas where the annual radiation is below 20 millisieverts. In schools and parks where children spend a lot of time, the reduction rate is raised to around 60 percent.
Environment Minister Goshi Hosono told reporters that he wants to hold thorough discussions with the relevant municipalities before designating areas subject to decontamination work.

Base for Fukushima clean-up shown to the media
An operations base for repair and clean-up efforts at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has been shown to the media for the first time.
A group of journalists visited the J-Village soccer training center in Fukushima Prefecture on Friday, the 8-month anniversary of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.
The center, located about 20 kilometers south of the plant, has been used to house workers for plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company, Self-Defense Forces members and others.
TEPCO officials led a 3-hour tour showing the lodging facilities, equipment to measure radiation, and a counter to provide protective gear.
A waste storage area has 480,000 pieces of used protective clothing piled up in containers or bags awaiting disposal. The power company says living conditions have improved over the past 8 months, with a clinic and a dining hall now open around the clock. Workers initially had to sleep on the floor.
An employee assigned to decontaminate vehicles says staff feel more positive now the facilities are cleaner.
TEPCO is also opening the crippled power plant to the media for the first time on Saturday.



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Voices from around

. Daily Radiation Levels - LIST 　

. . . . .

Japan Times:

Noda hints at fourth extra budget for Tohoku
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111111a5.html

Nuclear export policy misguided
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ed20111111a1.html

Paying off reconstruction debt
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ed20111111a2.html

Artists and musicians rise up to support victims of Tohoku quake
Rise: Art and Music Charity Event for the Tohoku Earthquake is being hosted by a mix of Japanese and non-Japanese artists based in the Kansai area. The event will take place at Cafe Absinthe in Osaka's Shinsaibashi area and consists of live music, DJs, exhibitions and live painting that includes both drawing and a digital-art demonstration.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fq20111111a4.html


Calm at J. Village belies the danger
Tepco for the first time lets reporters into the base camp for thousands of workers striving each day to fix the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111112a3.html


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Daruma from Takasaki 高崎　復興祈願 だるま

Print one out and hang it in your prayer corner!

ganbaro !! Nihon
ガンバロー　日本




がんばろう　日本　Ganbaro Nippon !




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. Toys and Talismans from Japan .　


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