Meanwhile, the rikishi are..

[Kintamayama 47,369]

Baruto has been sternly warned today for walking about in a Jersey in Osaka's shopping district. The warning was issued to Onoe Oyakata as well. Baruto was already warned two years ago for walking about in public in a tee-shirt and shorts. Some person spotted him walking about in his civvies and blew the whistle. He called Onoe Oyakata, who then went today to the Kyokai with Baruto to apologize (they came all the way to the contaminated danger zone to apologize??). "Baruto went there to visit a friend so it wasn't like he went against the Kyokai's wishes.. I warned him Howardly!" said the Oyakata. "It's really not the right time, walking around in inappropriate attire-what was he thinking?/" asked Hanaregoma Rijicho.

Kokkai may leave for Georgia, he apparently told his Oyakata today. The Mongolian camp is agitated as well. A few sekitori headed by Juryo Hoshikaze visited the Kyokai offices and asked to be allowed to go home for now."My parents are phoning me and nagging me every day to come home immediately. The earthquakes and the nuclear thing scare me, but what can I do??" lamented an unnamed Makuuchi rikishi. Hakuhou has sent his wife and three kids to Tokushima. "If things deteriorate, I am thinking of sending them to Mongolia," he said. He went for degeiko today at Ooshima beya facing the likes of Kyokutenhou and Kyokunankai-30 bouts. "I'm doing serious keiko every day as if a honbasho is starting," he said. One of his tsukebitos lost family members in the disaster. He also confirmed that his day out at Yasukuni Shrine with children planned for April 3rd is canceled. As for his feeling about the Kyokai prohibiting the rikishi from leaving Tokyo- "I think we should be allowed to leave Tokyo. Everyone has his own worries and it's our lives we are talking about. We can always return when the decision is made to hold the next basho," he said.

Sadogatake beya is donating 1,230,000 to the relief fund. "The rikishi asked me individually to donate money for the cause, so we decided to give as much as we can," said the Oyakata. The Kyokai has already pledged 50,000,000 yen.

Edited March 18, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Jonosuke 28]

For someone following so-called the national sport of Japan for so many years. my leaning may be even right of the Sankei Shimbun or my view may strictly belong to a minority but any of non-Japanese rikishi who wants to fly back home, the Kyokai should let him and hand him the walking paper as they don't need him. Actually no nation needs any one who flees after the first sign of trouble as they are nothing more than long term tourists.

All non-Japanese rikishi came to Japan on their volition and those who became successful became successful because of their own determination and whole lot of love and support from others, including those who may have suffered and are suffering from the quake and tsunami and living with no more than two Onigiri a day. The Kyokai had many jungyos in Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi and all rikishi should think long and hard how generously they have been treated while they were in these areas.

It is a question of whether they want to live through and share hardships and anguish with many of their supporters who are unable to flee or they want to dig deeper and show their true blue camaraderie with the people who truly love the sport they love. They truly have a great opportunity to be a part of rebuilding process and solutions. They already know what their life with sumo is like but they should think what their life was and is and will be like without sumo.

[Jaak 7]

All non-Japanese rikishi came to Japan on their volition and those who became successful became successful because of their own determination and whole lot of love and support from others, including those who may have suffered and are suffering from the quake and tsunami and living with no more than two Onigiri a day. The Kyokai had many jungyos in Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi and all rikishi should think long and hard how generously they have been treated while they were in these areas.

It is a question of whether they want to live through and share hardships and anguish with many of their supporters who are unable to flee or they want to dig deeper and show their true blue camaraderie with the people who truly love the sport they love. They truly have a great opportunity to be a part of rebuilding process and solutions.

Precisely in which way? They are not directly contributing to rebuilding effort.

They are not now setting out for a jungyo to Fukushima to share the hardships of their fans. Sharing the hardships would mean increasing the hardships - additional people to fill the roads and the few buses and trains, additional mouths to empty shops etc. etc. The best way they can contribute to rebuilding is by getting out of the way.

[Jonosuke 28]

There are a lot they can do without fleeing.

They can help raise the money needed for rebuilding efforts, joining in charitable events. I did not mean to go to the areas as many have evacuated the areas. How about a heya taking food to cook chanko at evacuations centres in Saitama or Ibaraki within the reach once things are settled down? All sumo beya regularly receive foodstuffs from their supporters liviing in many areas like rice, vegetables, meats, fish and fruits. Well they can certainly contribute some of these especially if they combine their efforts by ichimon or the whole Kyokai. I am sure they can stock a whole truck load.

There are all kind of things we can do without getting in the way, all we need is compassion and ideas.

[Kotoviki 16]

For someone following so-called the national sport of Japan for so many years. my leaning may be even right of the Sankei Shimbun or my view may strictly belong to a minority but any of non-Japanese rikishi who wants to fly back home, the Kyokai should let him and hand him the walking paper as they don't need him. Actually no nation needs any one who flees after the first sign of trouble as they are nothing more than long term tourists.

All non-Japanese rikishi came to Japan on their volition and those who became successful became successful because of their own determination and whole lot of love and support from others, including those who may have suffered and are suffering from the quake and tsunami and living with no more than two Onigiri a day. The Kyokai had many jungyos in Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi and all rikishi should think long and hard how generously they have been treated while they were in these areas.

It is a question of whether they want to live through and share hardships and anguish with many of their supporters who are unable to flee or they want to dig deeper and show their true blue camaraderie with the people who truly love the sport they love. They truly have a great opportunity to be a part of rebuilding process and solutions. They already know what their life with sumo is like but they should think what their life was and is and will be like without sumo.

Thank you for posting this because I was thinking the exact same thing as you!! Not just about the rikishi but a few different friends of mine both Japanese and non-Japanese (who are also permanent residents in Japan and who are NOT evacuating) said the same thing about all foreigners fleeing. They said if they are here on long term visas, spent a reasonable amount of time here, have been living on the Japanese money they are paid and want to evacuate then good riddance! They should not be allowed back!!

I have many friends here who are employed by companies outside of Japan, they are all being recalled to their home countries for safety. This I don't have a problem with, that is an order from their company. Also military, if the military sends the dependents home or evacuates them elsewhere it is ok. Most military are here short term and again are transferred here by the gov't whether they wanted to come here or not.

But the rest of them calling Japan home, then bailing when the going gets tough.. don't let the immigration door hit you on the way out!

All the money that is being paid to evacuate including people who are paying from their own pockets and all the manpower to process immigrations and Narita and for military evacuations.. that money and those resources and man power could be spent to help the people who are in real need in the tsunami stricken areas.

True that most normal people including rikishi should not be walking around the rubble looking for bodies as they are not trained for this, they could still do other things to help. Including putting that $3,000 for a plane ticket into a donation for medicines and blankets for people in the shelters. Jonosuke is right, the people of those quake stricken areas have given a lot of support to the rikishi and the kyokai and it is their turn to return that support. Fundraisers, cooking chanko for shelters, or even just going to help at the shelters, talking to victims, cheering them up, serving food to them, helping relief workers carry heavy boxes and equipment to shelters (good weight training for the lack of keiko they have now) there are a lot of things they can do to help out.

And maybe the most important of all to show the Japanese that they are staying and not running away from Japan until times get better or safer!

An exodus of foreign rikishi in the news will do nothing to improve their images nor that of sumo in general.

Ok, sorry if I'm on a rant. I did a live interview on CNN News Room at 1am Japan time about "why I'm staying" and after that interview so many people I never heard of sent me facebook messages saying "thanks for staying" as did all my Japanese friends who called/emailed after the interview! (CNN found me via my comments on facebook and asked me to do the interview, they want to do update interviews every few days..I guess to make sure I'm not dying from radiation.. :-)

OFF TOPIC: PS I've had a request from the "partners for animal rescue" to find volunteers as drivers in the Akita area who can pick up and deliver supply shipments to the ground teams. Gas and food expenses will be paid including if you have a far distance to get there, they'd like people in the Akita area but if you have time and can get up there from somewhere else they still may need you.

[alpineviolet 0]

Jonosuke and Viki, you took the words right out of my mouth. I don't live in Japan (yet) but it feels weird as I've been continuing to plan my budget for moving over there (hopefully for long-term, but I'm starting with a few months) while others are fleeing the country. This hasn't discouraged me in the least, because I've wanted to live in Japan for years, and right now it hurts to be in California, watching all this and being able to do nothing to help those in need, except donate what I can.

I don't understand how a person can move somewhere and call it home, and then abandon that home as soon as it becomes uncomfortable. How can anybody be part of a community that way?

I don't expect everyone to agree with me, of course. But bad things can happen to you anywhere. I think it's important to be committed to the place where you live and your community, and it makes me kind of sad to find out that some rikishi were just in Japan to make money. Even if only the elderly feel this way (but I don't believe it's only them), I think it matters that rikishi represent something to Japanese society. It shouldn't be treated like a company job (which is also why I don't think Baruto should be going around in a tee-shirt right now, since it might make people happy to see an ozeki in in proper dress, but that's a nitpick). I've read of many people asking for a charity jungyo, and when the time is right, I think it would be a great idea to hold one *outside* of the affected areas. Also, it might be cool if Hakuho visited shrines or other sites in the affected areas to ritually stomp away the bad stuff. This would be along with more practical help when the time is right (i.e. when they won't be in the way).

Edited March 18, 2011 by alpineviolet

[Kintamayama 47,369]

For someone following so-called the national sport of Japan for so many years. my leaning may be even right of the Sankei Shimbun or my view may strictly belong to a minority but any of non-Japanese rikishi who wants to fly back home, the Kyokai should let him and hand him the walking paper as they don't need him. Actually no nation needs any one who flees after the first sign of trouble as they are nothing more than long term tourists.

All non-Japanese rikishi came to Japan on their volition and those who became successful became successful because of their own determination and whole lot of love and support from others, including those who may have suffered and are suffering from the quake and tsunami and living with no more than two Onigiri a day. The Kyokai had many jungyos in Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi and all rikishi should think long and hard how generously they have been treated while they were in these areas.

It is a question of whether they want to live through and share hardships and anguish with many of their supporters who are unable to flee or they want to dig deeper and show their true blue camaraderie with the people who truly love the sport they love. They truly have a great opportunity to be a part of rebuilding process and solutions. They already know what their life with sumo is like but they should think what their life was and is and will be like without sumo.

I don't usually agree with you but I was thinking exactly the same thing, except I can understand their wish to leave when they seem to think they are looking death in the face or worse, but would hand them their walking papers regardless.. And I wouldn't group them with the "people who decided to make Japan their home" as not too many foreign rikishi stay on after their careers are over. They decided to make Japan their "workplace" so it's OK if they want to leave, but once they are out-they should stay out. It won't look good otherwise.

[Kotoviki 16]

Jonosuke and Viki, you took the words right out of my mouth. I don't live in Japan (yet) but it feels weird as I've been continuing to plan my budget for moving over there (hopefully for long-term, but I'm starting with a few months) while others are fleeing the country. This hasn't discouraged me in the least, because I've wanted to live in Japan for years, and right now it hurts to be in California, watching all this and being able to do nothing to help those in need, except donate what I can.

I don't understand how a person can move somewhere and call it home, and then abandon that home as soon as it becomes uncomfortable. How can anybody be part of a community that way?

I don't expect everyone to agree with me, of course. But bad things can happen to you anywhere. I think it's important to be committed to the place where you live and your community, and it makes me kind of sad to find out that some rikishi were just in Japan to make money. Even if only the elderly feel this way (but I don't believe it's only them), I think it matters that rikishi represent something to Japanese society. It shouldn't be treated like a company job (which is also why I don't think Baruto should be going around in a tee-shirt right now, since it might make people happy to see an ozeki in in proper dress, but that's a nitpick). I've read of many people asking for a charity jungyo, and when the time is right, I think it would be a great idea to hold one *outside* of the affected areas. Also, it might be cool if Hakuho visited shrines or other sites in the affected areas to ritually stomp away the bad stuff. This would be along with more practical help when the time is right (i.e. when they won't be in the way).

Well I agree with you!! In my next CNN interview I'd like to talk about these kinds of feelings in general (not sumo world) and if it comes down to the next interview I may go into the sumo world as well.

I love Baruto with all my heart, he's been like a brother to me for many years. I was never more proud of anyone than of his making Ozeki and I cried every match he had in Osaka when he won, cried when he called to tell me the official news, cried at his party.. He is the brother I don't have by birth BUT if he leaves I have no sympathy for them to let him come back.

You are so right, the rikishi represent Japanese society and with all the black marks they are not making it better if they choose to run away! If all the other foreigners are gone Kaisei can move up the banzuke faster! He is one foreigner who is not asking to leave! I talked with him last night before my interview because his parents were watching and waiting for CNN and I was doing a 3 way talk with them. They also said they would never ask him to return to Brazil because they know he loves Japan and he also considers Japan home! And he plans to stay in Japan forever! Baruto has never intended to stay after his retirement which is fine, he already has a plan for how many more years he'll do sumo before going back to Estonia. So sure it isn't the same for him as it is for Kaisei but STILL Baruto should remain in Japan if he wants to continue his sumo career and that is that!

[sekihiryu 51]

I bet a lot of them wish the Haru Basho was on and they were currently lodging in Osaka far from any potential nuclear threat or daily disruptions. Honestly, who wouldn't wish that if they were the same boat?

Bailing the country temporarily? well thats a whole different kettle of fish.

I imagine they have little need for trains or gasoline but I wonder has their beya food supply chain broken down in the recent calamity?

[wanderer 159]

This criticizing of rikishi temporarily leaving the country sounds quite weird to me. Sitting at home doing nothing is not very passionate during this trying time. I am very very certain that all rikishi will start organizing fund raisers and rebuilding projects as soon as the initial acute crisis period is over. I don't understand why people are so impatient. Kyokai, and rikishi always do funds and awareness raising activities on occasions like this. It will be busy months ahead for rikishi, who would go home and around lifting spirits up, helping the elderly etc.

At this exact moment, it would make sense if foreign rikishi are allowed to have a break, and visit their homes. I am sure they will be busy with fund raising activities back home. Hakuho coming down asking for help personally would greatly boost the moral support of the funds raised, just as what Asashoryu and Kyukushuzan did for Kobe earthquake. I remember reading many interviews given by Kobe earthquake victims that support coming from ordinary people through Mongolian rikishi was very moving moment, and it is the people-to-people moral support that was most valuable because Japanese Government doesn't really need much help from outside anyway. To be honest, foreign rikishi are the burden to Japanese society if they stay home during times like this. But they turn into Japanese good will ambassadors if they travel home during times likes this. At least they will not be consuming tons of resources while the earthquake victims watch them from their shelters.

As of now, countless many Mongolian organizations have already sent large sums of money, blankets, tents etc. and they did not even wait the government to act. Meanwhile, Mongolian Government sent several planes full of aid to Japan already, and MIAT the Mongolian airline is donating its charter flights for this purpose. Mongolian rescue teams are working in Myagi prefecture day and night. All these are tiny compared to aids flowing in from big countries, but this is what Mongolians do on occasions like this. I also remember the days when Mongolia used to host Japanese children affected by the long term radiation effects in a safe and healthy environment. Japanese are always well prepared for disasters like this, and need little material help. But knowing people from other countries care about them is probably very helpful.

[alpineviolet 0]

To be honest, foreign rikishi are the burden to Japanese society if they stay home during times like this.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I think that foreigners (whether rikishi or otherwise) aren't a burden in a situation like this; I think stability is the most important thing, and a bunch of people leaving the country right now may cause more problems than it solves (economically, for instance, or spreading fear among people who don't have the option to leave).

I do feel sympathy for those who want to go home, I just don't think it's the right choice in this instance. Of course, everybody has to do as they think best.

[Kotoviki 16]

The problem with them leaving now even IF they had nothing to do here is that they look like they are abandoning the ship. The tension is amazing at the bitterness to all the foreigners suddenly leaving. Where I live I have been treated as a Japanese equally for over 15 years or so. I think before that I may have still been a bit gaijin to them.. :-) but so many people asked me today at work and in my town "aren't you leaving?" "Hell no" or the equivalent in Japanese.. I said!!! "I'm staying." "are you evacuating?" "of course we can't, we are Japanese" "well so am I Japanese (at heart)" I can't tell you how many people thanked me today for staying. I sent a package via takkyubin today and the man had seen me on tv last night on the CNN interview. He was so excited he went to get other staff to show them who I was! Every single Japanese I know that I've seen in these days has thanked me.

If this extends to me I know it extends to foreign rikishi. Leaving now shows no loyalty Japan. I (personally) can't see how any good can come out of it for their image or for the sumo world image. They'd have to go home and rescue an entire family (would be best if they were Japanese) from a burning 10 story skyscraper carrying them on their back to safety for their trip home to seem good to the people suffering in Japan!

The heyas are treated as neighbors and friends by the Japanese around them. Even remote heyas where they boys are there a short time each year. The grandmas and moms around there treat them like their own grandsons or sons. All of them, Japanese and foreign.

In a time of crisis to the people around them many of whom are old it would seem comforting that a heya full of strong men & boys are nearby if they need help. I can't tell you how comforting it would be for me to have even the smallest and weakest rikishi nearby my home right now. Surrounded by old people my biggest fear in an earthquake is being trapped inside my home unable to get out due to obstacles that could easily be moved by a strong person nearby.

In my personal opinion nothing good can come of them leaving now! Except to promote more hysteria about the exodus of foreigners. Giving many a stronger impression of how foreigners do not fit or are not needed in Japanese society.

As far as I hear their food supply is still fine and they are not a drain on resources to stay here. Besides if one rikishi from each heya left it wouldn't make enough impact to matter. There is still enough rice and other things in the south. People I know have gotten care packages from relatives or friends elsewhere with rice and batteries.. the heya have even more connections to the south.

NOW, I can report on a couple heya's activities.

Sadogatake beya was going to start keiko this weekend but again decided to wait a bit more as the oyakata fears that they would have to flee in Mawashi in a quake and so he is staying with no keiko for now. I'll hear back from them after the weekend to find out when they start up again.

However, the rikishi are fine at the heya!

Tomozuna beya is taking this 3 day weekend still off and will have keiko from Tuesday (of course situation could change). they are ready to start keiko, everyone is absolutely genki though Kaisei asked if I could send another 60 muffins... I have to cut him off before he gets to YMY size!

Again Kaisei is not a foreigner who even thinks a second about leaving! He saw my interview and he said I was so "kakkoii" I think he'd like to say the same things but of course rikishi can never speak their minds freely in the media (Shaking head...)

Also other heya hoping to get to normal next week.. another thing is if they aren't doing keiko they are eating less so little less strain on food supplies.

I'm planning to start off to watch keiko from Wednesday for sure if not Monday!!

[Kintamayama 47,369]

Sadogatake have started keiko today for the first time since the earthquake. However, they will be conserving electricity and taking baths after the keiko only until 11 am. "It's the least we can do- think about how bad it is for the victims!" said the Oyakata.

Hakuhou has promised to donate all his kensho winnings next basho to the victims of the earthquake.

Harumafuji's wife is in Mongolia and was planning to return to Japan to continue her studies, but she is staying home for the moment and will see how things pan out.

Ex-Takatouriki who now owns a chain of restaurants has donated two tons of meat to the stricken area. He intends to distribute it himself, and is planning on traveling for two weeks/a month. "I'd like to visit Ishinomaki and Kisennuma. I'd like to go to the worst hit places first," he said. He intends to take 5-6 friends and three trucks with him for the distribution. "Money is tight, but only a fool will open his restaurant now.. I am from Kobe and I remember how we were treated after our earthquake, so now it's my chance to return the favor," he said. He will also be taking a water purifier, tissues and nappies to distribute to the people. He already has all the paperwork ready. "I don't want it to look like I'm trying to make a name for myself, so I ask you not to report about this.." he summed, refusing to have pictures taken.

[ilovesumo 12]

Was in Cologne yesterday - Japanese people (parents of kids, visiting the same school) collected donations (in front of the Dom) for the victims in Japan. Very unhappy people in fear. Those who donated got an origami crane made by the kids.

One German guy married to a Japanese woman had a rather angry view on the "stupid information policy" and "not evacuating people quickly". He told me in tears how his wife's family - just 150 km from fukushima - refuses to leave and how frustrating that is for his family here - how his wife was begging they'd better come to Germany - this is a daughter's LOVE, not disrespect or weakness.

I want all people evacuated to safer places and the whole world to be solidary, not "only" foreigners to leave. Cannot understand the "don't let em come back"- opinions - all those people have families who fear they might get harmed - those people suffer as well. I had my granny of 81 crying: "you stay here!!!". Now tell me those who leave / or don't go to Japan as planned are bad people. I won't try to convince anyone to leave anymore, but we all should respect those who think of their loved ones first and believe me, they all feel the pain and watching the news is very hard for all of us.

[Kotoviki 16]

I wonder what prompted Sadogatake to start keiko today when yesterday they said they would continue throughout the weekend not to do keiko.. hmm but it is good news!!!! Getting back to keiko gets things back to normalcy!!! Some private schools in Tokyo/Chiba which closed after the quake reopened in the past few days as well. As much as students like to have days off from school I think getting back to see that all their friends are happy and getting to a normal routine is a good thing for them!!

Many trains are starting to run to further stations but at less frequent times than usual... it is a difficult time for students (and teachers) who have to commute 1 or 2 hours as many of my students do! They are being excused from school (public) if their trains are down, etc.. the school doesn't want them to take 5 hours to get to school!! :-)

[Asashosakari 20,297]

Notwithstanding my own reasons for finding some of the "early evacuaters" irksome (mentioned elsewhere before), I don't quite agree with the general tenor of this thread. We don't even know if the foreign rikishi in question are particularly desperate to leave themselves - some might just have family back home who need reassuring that things are going to be fine in person instead of merely by phone, and they'd be back in Japan in a matter of days. Throwing them out of sumo for a pretty human reaction to a disaster strikes me as rather knee-jerkish, even moreso when there's not even a basho to prepare for.

That being said, in as much as one can find things amusing during such a large-scale tragedy, the fact that going on two long-distance flights might well end up exposing you to a higher radiation dose than staying in Tokyo would apparently hasn't occurred to many Westerners who left right away (especially those who "did it for their children").

And apparently Asashoryu is even more impressive than I knew he was, given that he was out raising funds for victims of the Kobe earthquake as a 14-year-old...

[Fay 1,677]

Quite easy to demand from rikishi to be a role model in a situation like this when oneself is sitting in warm, safe and cozy places all over the world.

[Kintamayama 47,369]

Quite easy to demand from rikishi to be a role model in a situation like this when oneself is sitting in warm, safe and cozy places all over the world.

Heheheh..

[Kotoviki 16]

But the Japanese who are on edge living in Tokyo are also demanding for them to be role models. Everyone living in Tokyo exposed to the same potential danger.. if their neighbors demand them to be role models it isn't so much to ask as if it were only people across the globe.

Especially when the Japanese rikishi have no home country to flee to!

The tension between Japanese and foreigners this weekend is awful!!! I imagine it won't change... Public school principal already told me that if they don't come back by April 1st on the date they should legally start their contracts with the schools that most schools already decide to immediately look for a different teacher because if they aren't back that date then they are voiding the terms of their contracts. In fact one of my schools asked me if I will go back because if I would they want a different teacher (for Kindergarten) as they feel it is uncertain I would return.

If Tokyo can expect this of even part time teachers working only a two hours a week then for people to expect the rikishi to be role models isn't a huge sacrifice.

Anyone fleeing who has been counting on the Japanese economy to employ them for any decent amount of time proves that they just want the good from Japan but aren't willing to help out in times of need or stand side by side in troubled times. It is really a bad impression!!! It is easy to say "my parents want to see me to make sure I'm ok" but they can see them on video chat or talk to them on the telephone. I heard this excuse from a person who left already by the start of the weekend claiming "I'm not scared but my family wants to see me so it isn't a bad time to leave" but she had just been home to see her family at the end of January for two weeks when her university classes ended.

Well there are enough prejudice Japanese in Tokyo anyway (luckily I don't know any) so something like this can just make matters worse. Of course everyone has to do what they feel is best, it is also up to them to face whatever consequences come of it. I suppose if everyone in Tokyo died of radiation and they didn't those would be good consequences. But that is not going to happen........

[Peterao 3]

That being said, in as much as one can find things amusing during such a large-scale tragedy, the fact that going on two long-distance flights might well end up exposing you to a higher radiation dose than staying in Tokyo would apparently hasn't occurred to many Westerners who left right away (especially those who "did it for their children").

I wonder if one of my co-workers who immediately bolted Japan "for the safety of his family" has also stopped exposing them to his second-hand smoke.

And we would all be a lot better off if people like ilovesumo would stop turning the hysteria dial to 11...

[Kotoviki 16]

Today I talked with the US department of Energy who are here checking air/water/soil 24/7 and they said there is NOTHING to worry about...

Then I went to my doctor for a blood pressure check up... (been very high for a year) and guess what? my bp was better than in a year, lower than the doctor hoped, perfect in fact... so I guess really I'm not worrying. Talked to my doctor and the guys with bioenvironmental medicine who told me that 1) all is fine, safe and if people would stop watching the media the hysteria would end. 2) there is currently more radiation in Colorado than Tokyo so good luck to the people who fled there. 3) all the hysteria about the radiation found in the spinach, milk and other veggies which are now all being destroyed (wtf that could easily feed the people in shelters) are also fine to eat. He said that you'd have to eat 2.2 pounds/1kg of the veggies every day for a year to have any effect. (I'd like to see that) and the milk as well, you'd need to drink a massive amount every day for over a year.. he said it is media causing hysteria... Our water is fine, our soil is fine the air is fine. In fact DOE went to Fukushima 15 miles from the nuclear plant and tested a farmer's soil and it was not elevated enough to be considered dangerous at all. Just 15 miles!!!

The only danger is the stampede I would fear in Narita airport or of dying to use the restroom for 6 hours waiting in line at immigrations to get an exit/entry stamp. Seriously the only real problem for people who are not in shelters who have lost everything are the gas shortages, food shortages and black outs. But all of that we can live with. So far my neighborhood has only had one or two of the scheduled outages last the entire time due to everyone conserving. There may not be the food you want but there is food.

I can only speak for USA. Embassy evacuees have to pay for the one way flights to the government for the chartered airplanes. So maybe those people really were scared.

US Military get free round trip flights for families (some services including pets). All evacuees are voluntary, NOT mandatory. A good portion of the evacuees went to Guam and Hawaii, not back home to the loving arms of their families who are so worried about them. They are taking a FREE vacation, they are not worried about radiation. All the money spent on evacuations by every country could be spent so much better to help the people up north who need it.

IF I were willing to spend $3,000 on an air ticket to get out of here (as one of my friend's did) I should instead stay and drop that to the red cross efforts. Money and manpower are wasted on Dept of state evacuations (for every country) which are voluntary and not necessary.(except to stop the panic and hysteria)

Had dinner with the Royal Australian Air Force team tonight who are flying into the radiation zone every day bringing in relief supplies and they are all radiation free and not worried at all. They just want to help the Japanese people!

The people in radiation danger are the workers in the plant and the firefighters who have been there exposed to the radiation at the plant.

My doctor said everyone should just turn off the news and they'd be fine (FWIW he has a 5 month old baby and he is not evacuating his wife or baby!)

[Fay 1,677]

Today I talked with the US department of Energy who are here checking air/water/soil 24/7 and they said there is NOTHING to worry about...

all the hysteria about the radiation found in the spinach, milk and other veggies which are now all being destroyed (wtf that could easily feed the people in shelters) are also fine to eat. He said that you'd have to eat 2.2 pounds/1kg of the veggies every day for a year to have any effect. (I'd like to see that) and the milk as well, you'd need to drink a massive amount every day for over a year.. he said it is media causing hysteria... Our water is fine, our soil is fine the air is fine. In fact DOE went to Fukushima 15 miles from the nuclear plant and tested a farmer's soil and it was not elevated enough to be considered dangerous at all. Just 15 miles!!!

That must be the reason why TEPCO will pay compensations to the farmers who can't use their fields any longer ...

Maybe one of the administrators could put this in the pro nuclear energy thread ...

[alpineviolet 0]

That must be the reason why TEPCO will pay compensations to the farmers who can't use their fields any longer ...

Maybe one of the administrators could put this in the pro nuclear energy thread ...

I was under the impression that they are compensating them for losses in currently existing produce that can no longer be shipped, not for fields that can't be used any longer.

"Edano also said that every effort should be made to provide appropriate compensation for the losses incurred by farmers because of the shipping restrictions."

It's NHK, so either you believe them or you don't. *shrug* It will probably take some time to find out what the long-term effects on the farmland will be, if any.

Edited March 21, 2011 by alpineviolet

[Flohru 178]

Today I talked with the US department of Energy who are here checking air/water/soil 24/7 and they said there is NOTHING to worry about...

all the hysteria about the radiation found in the spinach, milk and other veggies which are now all being destroyed (wtf that could easily feed the people in shelters) are also fine to eat. He said that you'd have to eat 2.2 pounds/1kg of the veggies every day for a year to have any effect. (I'd like to see that) and the milk as well, you'd need to drink a massive amount every day for over a year.. he said it is media causing hysteria... Our water is fine, our soil is fine the air is fine. In fact DOE went to Fukushima 15 miles from the nuclear plant and tested a farmer's soil and it was not elevated enough to be considered dangerous at all. Just 15 miles!!!

That must be the reason why TEPCO will pay compensations to the farmers who can't use their fields any longer ...

Maybe one of the administrators could put this in the pro nuclear energy thread ...

Also the US should clearly increase the communication between their agencies and departments as the State department has still a travel warning telling all US citizens to evacuate an area within 50 miles of the Fukushima plant. The reason might be that the NEI is massively lobbying the department of Energy but not the State department. Just pointing out, personally I don't believe Tokyo is any immediate danger either but I am relieved my best friend returned home anyway...

[Keishikazawa 0]

That must be the reason why TEPCO will pay compensations to the farmers who can't use their fields any longer ...

Maybe one of the administrators could put this in the pro nuclear energy thread ...

I was under the impression that they are compensating them for losses in currently existing produce that can no longer be shipped, not for fields that can't be used any longer.

"Edano also said that every effort should be made to provide appropriate compensation for the losses incurred by farmers because of the shipping restrictions."

It's NHK, so either you believe them or you don't. *shrug* It will probably take some time to find out what the long-term effects on the farmland will be, if any.

In most places in Tohoku we are restricted from using road salt in winter, as it could negatively affect the rice fields. I don't know for sure what all that salt water will do to the rice fields, but I'm sure it will be significant, at least for a while.