T+1 : The Day Earth Did Not Stand Still (yet)

Almost 24 hours has elapsed since the devastating 8.9 earthquake and tsunami in Northern Japan, and the world around Tokyo is slowly getting back on its feet. Yesterday, the initial 14.46 quake (5.46 GMT) and countless aftershocks brought railway services to a halt, and a number of businesses closed for the day.

The aftershocks continued throughout, each one no doubt bringing fear of the next Big One to the residents of eastern Japan. Indeed, in one of the largest metropolis areas in the world, I could look out and see lights ablaze in area homes at midnight, the mostly elderly and university-age inhabitants captivated by the images being broadcast by NHK, TBS, and every other Japan-based television network. Facebook, Twitter, and other social network users were given multilingual running updates from area-based friends. A 4am 6.6 quake in Nagano and Niigata, an earthquake alarm-triggering 5 point here, tore me from my futon and into my pre-laid clothes in a hurry. Sitting in anticipation, I navigated to Facebook to find that a number of my Kanto region-based friends had also virtually gathered and were posting the same news. 4 in the morning!

In the 25 minutes I have written this blog, we have had 3 aftershocks where shaking has been apparent. The most recent registered as a 3 point in Chiba.

Tonight there are rolling blackouts predicted for the Tokyo area, so naturally it is prudent to prepare to sit in the dark and to stay a bit warmer. While spring is showing signs of appearing, and the daytime temperatures are rising, the nights are still cool, around freezing.

As the morning-after images of demolished homes ccome in from Iwate and Miyagi, one can easily see the light snowfall. The survivors stand clad in whatever winter clothing they were able to take quickly, surveying the complete demolition.

Kita Koshigaya dwellers are visibly fatigued but endeavoring to push on as much as possible. Bicycle helmet-wearing children accompanied their mothers to the supermarket, where shoppers stocked up on bottled water/sports drinks, dried foods, and boxed lunches. The registers were double manned to process the growing number of customers, and the usual 1 store manager on site was tripled to 3-- two were running registers and the third was walking around appearing quite frenzied as he took note of supplies which needed restocking if possible.

As of 12.20pm, here is the report from my area:

-- The Tobu line (an extension of the Tokyo Hibiya Subway Line) is running at approximately 20-minute intervals, but there is no definite timetable and this is subject to cancelation at any time while technicians continue to inspect for damage. There are only local services being run today-- no express or special trains. Based on the number of people I saw in a short time who read the signboards (which normally display train departure times), walked to the ticket office, talked to the conductor, then walked away from the ticket gates, they may be informally advising people not to travel into the city unless absolutely necessary. In fact, I saw a number of passengers alighting from the right side (from Tokyo) dressed in business attire, looking quite exhausted. Departure times are not being posted.
http://www.tobu.co.jp/


The Tobu line has reopened, but only local services are running at approximate intervals which are subject to change at any time as technicians continue to inspect train lines for damage. This station is usually quite lively at 11am on a Saturday with passengers entering through the ticket gates. As I was leaving, one north-bound train (from Tokyo) arrived, and the passengers alighting in business attire was similar to an evening commute scene.

-- A few of the JR services in the Kanto area, including my local Musashino Line, have reopened on a limited basis, but are also running on delays. I presume there are no rapid services being offered here either. The Shinkansen is completely stopped, and only the Echigo line is operating in the Shinetsu (roughly Niigata) area.
http://traininfo.jreast.co.jp/train_info/e/kanto.aspx

-- Life supermarket and Matsumoto Kiyoshi are open for business again, and Life was quite busy this morning. There are understandable shortages of some products-- meat and produce-- due to delivery delays.


Only in Japan would you find signs apologizing because the bananas featured in the advertisement were not available due to the earthquake... the taped announcement from the store manager, which normally plays in the produce department advertising the various fresh products, was a combination of a couple of promotions and a lot of apologizing for the inconvenience of not having all their normal stock.