Tokyo-area stress-related illnesses worsen in wake of disaster: survey
While there is no doubting the enormity of the human toll of March 11's earthquake and tsunami in Japan's northeast, a new survey suggests the stress of the disaster may have wider health consequences, a recent survey has shown.
The survey -- conducted by online hospital search site QLife -- showed that the symptoms of Tokyo-area residents with chronic stress-related conditions including high blood pressure, depression and insomnia had worsened since March 11 despite the patients being far from the disaster area. Children appeared unaffected, while the trend was strongest among women and the elderly.....
(Mainichi Japan) March 29, 2011
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na018000c.html
Tsunami-ravaged northeast Japan village agonizes over future
KAMAISHI, Iwate -- Residents here are faced with the difficult decision of whether to rebuild this tsunami-ravaged fishing village on the Pacific coast, or leave it forever.
A 9.3-meter seawall had been built here in the Ryoishi district of Kamaishi to protect it from just such a disaster, but the huge March 11 tsunami swallowed the entire village anyway, leaving more than 40 of the some 500 citizens dead or unaccounted for. Only about 10 homes survived the wave. "Five seniors were evacuated to a residential area on high ground, but when they were drinking tea and relaxing, the tsunami took them," said one villager...
(Mainichi Japan) March 29, 2011
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...et014000c.html
22,726 seek job advice in quake-hit areas
More than 22,000 people have contacted public employment offices in the 3 northeastern prefectures hit hardest by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.
The labor ministry has set up consultation counters for survivors at job placement centers and labor bureaus in Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures.
22,726 people have asked about wages, unemployment benefits and finding new jobs....
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 06:25 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/30_02.html
Researchers: 30-meter tsunami in Ofunato
The latest research on the March 11 tsunami that slammed into Ofunato city in Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan shows that it was nearly 30 meters high.
A joint research team from Yokohama National University and University of Tokyo surveying the Ofunato city shoreline made the discovery.
They found fishing equipment scattered on the high cliff of the city's Ryori Bay and have determined the tsunami reached as high as 29.6 meters....
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 06:25 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/30_03.html
Labor offices receive 7,000 job inquiries following quake
SENDAI (Kyodo) -- Local labor offices in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures have received around 7,000 inquiries in total about labor issues, such as dismissals and leave allowances, since the March 11 mega earthquake and ensuing tsunamis, the offices said Wednesday.
It is now expected that these inquiries will inevitably increase as a large number of businesses in coastal areas of the three prefectures have suffered catastrophic damage due to the tsunamis, labor officials said....
(Mainichi Japan) March 30, 2011
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm007000c.html
Red Cross donates millions
The Japanese and American Red Cross organizations say they have raised millions of dollars in donations to support the survivors of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.
The Japanese Red Cross Society says it collected nearly 490 million dollars in the first 2 weeks after the disaster....
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 10:55 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/30_16.html