Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead & missing - March 27+

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead & missing - March 27+

Memorial held to mark 17 years since Hanshin quake

A memorial was held on Tuesday in the port city of Kobe in western Japan to mark the 17th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake. The quake killed 6,434 people.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 07:57 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120117_07.html

Victims of 1995 Hanshin quake remembered

Tuesday marks the 17th anniversary of an earthquake that hit the port city of Kobe and its surrounding areas. Local communities are holding numerous ceremonies to remember the nearly 6,500 people who died in the disaster.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 12:56 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120117_17.html

Japan hopes for more tourists from S. Korea

A top Japanese government official in charge of tourism is working to attract tourists from South Korea.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 19:04 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120117_27.html only korea? I hope for more tourists from world
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Yomiuri online

REVITALIZING JAPAN--Building a disaster-resistant nation / Post-disaster efforts litmus test for nation

This is the prologue in a series of articles examining ways to restore Japan's vitality. In the aftermath of the March 11 disaster and in the course of reconstruction efforts, many issues have emerged that the entire nation must face.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120116005483.htm

Job crisis ongoing for quake victims / Individuals face benefit cuts, industry hampered by rebuilding delays, bureaucracy

With unemployment benefit payments for some people in areas hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake beginning to end this month and only temporary jobs available, the unemployment crisis in the Tohoku region is worsening.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120116005333.htm

10,000 to participate in Tokyo disaster drills

A series of exercises will be held across Tokyo from next month to help prepare Tokyoites for the hours after a major earthquake that shuts down public transport networks across the capital.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120116004701.htm

Back to school

Seventy students attend an opening ceremony for the third term of the school year on Monday at a temporary building for Toni Primary School in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture. The prefabricated two-story building was built at a higher elevation on Toni Middle School grounds and was completed late last year. After the March 11 disaster, Toni students had attended classes at Heita Primary School as the tsunami flooded three stories of their own school located along the coast.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20120117dy01.htm
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AJW

'Life' lit up for 17th anniversary of Kobe quake

A lighting display event was held on Jan. 16. on a sandbar in the Mukogawa river running through Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake.

Stones formed into the kanji character 'sei' (life) are lit to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. (Kenta Sujino)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_...AJ201201170015

<iframe width="300" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sTCaRFiqSGE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="300" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JBlXK_bGkT8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING / Tohoku school clubs receive mountain of support

Climbers and mountain equipment makers from across Japan are sending in boots, sleeping bags and other equipment to get high school students in areas devastated by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami out into the mountains.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/sports/...AJ201201170038

Lunar new year ritual spooks evacuee children

Evacuee children living in temporary housing in the Yoshihama district of tsunami-hit Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, had the wits scared out of them by a man dressed in a monster costume on Jan. 15.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_...AJ201201170007
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Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Gift from late parents encouraged Kobe quake orphan to work hard in life

KOBE -- On the 17th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, a 26-year-old man looks on his life in retrospect to find that what encouraged him to work hard over the years was a single gift that his parents gave him before they lost their lives on that horrible day.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/features/arch...na019000c.html

Japan's 2011 beer shipments drop to record low due to quake

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Total shipments of beer and beer-like drinks in Japan dropped 3.7 percent in 2011 from a year earlier to a record low of 442.39 million cases due partly to the massive March earthquake and tsunami that disrupted supplies, industry data showed Tuesday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu123000c.html

Hong Kong lowers travel warnings for Japan

HONG KONG (Kyodo) -- The Hong Kong government eased Monday travel alerts for Japan-bound visitors, removing restrictions to all Japanese destinations except Fukushima Prefecture, home to the nuclear power plant damaged by last year's earthquake and tsunami.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm025000c.html

Kobe area marks 17 years since deadly quake, honors Tohoku victims

KOBE (Kyodo) -- A series of ceremonies and commemorative events marked the 17th anniversary Tuesday of the Great Hanshin Earthquake which ravaged Hyogo Prefecture and its surrounding areas in western Japan, claiming about 6,430 lives.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm040000c.html

72&#37; of graduating univ. students have job offers, 2nd worst on record

....Among job-seeking high school students in the three prefectures hardest hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, 71.0 percent in Miyagi have found jobs, up 15.9 points. The rate also rose 3.9 points to 80.1 percent in Iwate and 6.9 points to 73.3 percent in Fukushima.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm102000c.html

Flames of hope spreading along disaster-hit northeast coast

RIKUZENTAKATA, Iwate -- The flames of hope are spreading along the tsunami-devastated northeast coast of Japan, literally.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na006000c.html

Problems emerge after local gov'ts secure 'deemed' temporary homes for disaster victims

Local governments in northeastern Japan severely affected by the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami have secured tens of thousands of "deemed temporary houses" for disaster victims by renting private homes, but the people using those facilities are scattered across the country in such a way that local governments and relief workers cannot easily reach them.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na009000c.html

Tsunami-hit Ishinomaki holds memorial service for Hanshin quake victims

ISHINOMAKI, Miyagi -- Residents here marked the 17th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake with a memorial service held to pay homage to the victims and express gratitude to survivors for their help since last year's triple disasters.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na013000c.html

Tsunami disaster orphans estimated at 240

The Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami left a total of 240 orphans in the three most severely affected prefectures, Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima, latest prefectural estimates show.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na017000c.html


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Jiji press

Japan Used Vehicle Sales Hit Record Low

Tokyo, Jan. 17 (Jiji Press)--Sales of used vehicles in Japan, excluding minivehicles, fell 4.0 pct in 2011 to a record low of 3,774,015 units, an industry group said Tuesday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012011701020

5 Companies to Build "Smart City" in Sendai

Sendai, Jan. 17 (Jiji Press)--Hitachi Ltd. <6501> and four Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. <9432> group companies will set up a joint company to develop an environmentally friendly "smart city" in Sendai as part of projects to reconstruct the northeastern city hit hard by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11 last year, it was learned Tuesday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=ind&k=2012011701465

Kobe Quake Survivors Express Support for March 11 Victims

Kobe, Jan. 17 (Jiji Press)--Thousands gathered for a memorial ceremony in Kobe Tuesday to mark the 17th anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck the western Japan area.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012011701029

Japan, U.S. to Team Up on Tsunami Debris

Washington, Jan. 17 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Environment Minister Goshi Hosno and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides agreed in a meeting here Tuesday that their countries will team up on measures to deal with massive marine debris from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012011800242
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Sankei news

memorial service for Hanshin quake victims
<iframe width="300" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VTyfAFF8Wt4?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

Japan may send experts to US to deal with debris

Japan's disaster minister says the government may send a group of experts to the US to share information about debris from Japan's March 11th quake and tsunami.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 17:09 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120118_27.html
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Yomiuri online

Ministry plans to enable real estate securitization

The land ministry announced plans to establish a new system facilitating the securitization of real estate assets to raise private funds as part of efforts to promote seismic retrofitting and redevelopment for deteriorated buildings.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T120117005312.htm

Hanshin victims renew vow to move on

KOBE--On the 17th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake on Tuesday at 5:46 a.m., Choi Minbu, 70, who runs a shoe factory in Suma Ward, Kobe, observed a moment of silence at a park near his house with his neighbors, an annual practice since the Hanshin disaster.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120117005935.htm

REVITALIZING JAPAN -- Building a disaster-resistant nation / How should we be prepared for 'calamity' in 1,000 yrs?

This is the first installment in a series of articles examining ways to restore Japan's vitality.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120117005950.htm

Hanshin quake victims remembered

KOBE--Participants in a ceremony Tuesday marking the 17th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe prayed not only for the victims of the 1995 disaster but also for those who died in last year's Great East Japan Earthquake.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120117005951.htm
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AJW

Hanshin quake survivors grieve for daughter killed on 3/11

KOBE--At 5:46 a.m. on Jan. 17, Toshinori Fujita and his wife, Hidemi, prayed for the victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake that struck at that moment 17 years ago, but their grief also included their daughter, who lost her life in the March 11 disaster.

Hidemi Fujita, left, and her husband, Toshinori, attend a memorial service for victims of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe on Jan. 17. (Takaharu Yagi)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311dis...AJ201201180003
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Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Japan used vehicle sales fall to record low in 2011

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Sales of secondhand vehicles in Japan declined 4.0 percent in 2011 from a year earlier to 3,774,015 units, marking a record low since the compilation of data began in 1978, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Tuesday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu114000c.html

Toyota celebrates Aqua production in Iwate Pref.

KANEGASAKI, Japan (Kyodo) -- Toyota Motor Corp. celebrated on Tuesday the start of production of its new Aqua hybrid compact car at a plant operated by subsidiary Kanto Auto Works Ltd. in Kanegasaki, Iwate Prefecture.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu118000c.html

World Bank trims growth forecast for Japan to 1.9&#37; in 2012

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu122000c.html

Japanese firms keen to move some operations overseas to diversify risk

SINGAPORE (Kyodo) -- More Japanese companies are looking overseas to diversify risks after the earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan in March last year, a top Singapore investment official said Tuesday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu123000c.html

Japanese businesses recovering after quake: Japan business group

HONG KONG (Kyodo) -- A majority of Japanese businesses are expecting improved profit in the 2011 fiscal year thanks to the government's earthquake relief measures but the weak economic sentiment in the West offers no quick fix for a full recovery, the head of a Japanese business group said here Tuesday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu124000c.html

Sendai to continue property tax breaks for land owners hit by March 11 disasters

SENDAI -- The city government here has decided to continue property tax breaks for land owners hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in the 2012 fiscal year, it has been learned.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na005000c.html
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Jiji press

Japan New Auto Sales Seen Topping 5 M. Units in 2012

Tokyo, Jan. 18 (Jiji Press)--New automobile sales in Japan in 2012 are expected to rise 19.1 pct from the previous year to 5,015,500 units, according to an industry organization's estimate Wednesday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=ind&k=2012011800856

Japan to Hire Recovery Support Staff in Disaster Areas

Tokyo, Jan. 18 (Jiji Press)--Japan's internal ministry plans to help municipalities hit by the giant earthquake and tsunami last March 11 to hire staff to support reconstruction of their communities from fiscal 2012, it was learned Wednesday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012011800951

Spending for Japan Independent Administrative Bodies Grows due to Disaster

Tokyo, Jan. 18 (Jiji Press)--Japan's fiscal expenditures for independent administrative agencies earmarked for fiscal 2012 totaled 3,111.3 billion yen, up 4.1 pct from the previous year, the Ministry of Finance said Wednesday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012011801018
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JMA

17:55 JST 18 Jan 2012 38.6N 141.9E 50 km M4.3 Miyagi-ken Oki



jma http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...84-181755.html

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

Japan forecasts over 5 mil. auto sales in 2012

....Car-sales in 2011 were the lowest in the past 34 years as the March 11th earthquake and tsunami damaged parts-suppliers in the northeastern part of the country......

Thursday, January 19, 2012 05:29 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120119_04.html

BOJ to forecast 2&#37; growth for fiscal 2012

The Bank of Japan is expected to forecast economic growth of around 2 percent in fiscal 2012. The central bank will present its latest estimate early next week.

Thursday, January 19, 2012 12:53 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120119_17.html
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Yomiuri online

Patchwork quilts bringing warmth to disaster areas

"Let's hang in there, united!" The squares of fabric may be small--10 square centimeters--but the sentiment behind messages adorning them to cheer up survivors of the March 11 earthquake-tsunami-nuclear crisis is not.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120118004086.htm

REVITALIZING JAPAN -- Building a disaster-resistant nation / Home is where the heart is: Locals decide to stay

This is the second installment in a series of articles examining ways to restore Japan's vitality.

When The Yomiuri Shimbun recently visited New Orleans, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a house was being elevated to prevent it from being inundated by future flooding.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120118006638.htm
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Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Foreign visitors to Japan in 2011 logs sharpest decline on record

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The number of foreign nationals entering Japan in 2011 dived 24.4 percent from the year earlier to 7.14 million, down 2.31 million, marking the sharpest declines in terms of both rate and number since 1950 when the compilation of comparable data started, government data showed Tuesday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/travel/archiv...dm143000c.html

Trade fair featuring textile makers from quake-hit area opens in N.Y.

NEW YORK (Kyodo) -- A trade fair featuring 16 textile and knitting firms from three Japanese prefectures hit by last year's earthquake and tsunami disaster opened Wednesday at a hotel in New York.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/archive/...et149000c.html

Global economic losses from disasters in 2011 total $366 bil.

GENEVA (Kyodo) -- The economic losses from disasters around the world in 2011 totaled a record-high $366 billion due mainly to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, according to a United Nations report released Wednesday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu130000c.html

New vehicle sales in 2012 projected to top 5 mil.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu144000c.html

Maldives to invite children from disaster-hit areas

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Maldives plans to invite children from northeastern Japan that was hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Maldivian Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem said in a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba Wednesday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm101000c.html

Operation Tomodachi commander Walsh to retire from U.S. military

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- Adm. Patrick Walsh, who led the U.S. military's relief operations dubbed Operation Tomodachi in the wake of the March 2011 disaster in northeastern Japan, will retire from service, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said Wednesday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm102000c.html
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Jiji press

Japan to Set Up Reconstruction Agency on Feb. 10

Tokyo, Jan. 19 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government will set up a new agency in charge of reconstruction from last year's disaster on Feb. 10, according to sources.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012011900131

JR East to Spend Over 10 B. Yen for Sendai Station Redevelopment

Sendai, Miyagi Pref., Jan. 19 (Jiji Press)--East Japan Railway Co. <9020>, or JR East, will spend over 10 billion yen on the redevelopment of its Sendai Station in this northeastern Japan city, to give an impetus to the city's recovery from the March 2011 disaster, Masayuki Satomi, chief of the firm's Sendai branch, said Thursday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012011900666

Over 80 Pct of Social Welfare Facilities in Japan Quake-Resistant

Tokyo, Jan. 19 (Jiji Press)--Over 80 pct of social welfare facilities across Japan are resistant to earthquakes as strong as upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7, a government study revealed Thursday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012011901018

Operation Tomodachi Commander Walsh to Retire

Washington, Jan. 19 (Jiji Press)--Adm. Patrick Walsh, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, will retire Friday after heading relief Operation "Tomodachi," or friends in English, in the wake of the March 2011 disaster in Japan.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012000155

U.S. to Give Japan Dogwoods on 100th Anniv. of Cherry Tree Gift

Washington, Jan. 19 (Jiji Press)--Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell said Thursday that the United States will donate 3,000 dogwoods to Japan to mark the 100th anniversary of the gift of cherry trees from Japan.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012000336
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JMA

04:33 JST 19 Jan 2012 39.1N 142.5E 30 km M4.3 Iwate-ken Oki


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-190433.html

09:10 JST 19 Jan 2012 38.3N 141.8E 50 km M4.0 Miyagi-ken Oki


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-190910.html

10:11 JST 19 Jan 2012 39.1N 142.1E 50 km M4.0 Iwate-ken Oki


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-191011.html

16:42 JST 19 Jan 2012 39.2N 142.5E 30 km M4.4 Iwate-ken Oki


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-191642.html

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

East Timor President thanks Japan for support

....On Friday he is scheduled to inspect Japan's northeast which was hit hard by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11 last year. He plans to visit elementary and high schools in Sendai City.

Friday, January 20, 2012 01:09 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120120_02.html

US official urges continuity of Japan's leadership

.....Campbell also revealed a US plan to donate 3,000 dogwood seedlings to Tokyo and areas affected by the March 11th disaster in northeastern Japan as a token of friendship.

He said this will be a reciprocal gift, marking the 100th anniversary of Japan's donation of cherry trees to Washington. He said he hopes the gift will help to deepen the bilateral alliance.

Friday, January 20, 2012 09:30 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120120_13.html

Govt panel studies use of ships in disaster relief

The Cabinet Office has set up a study panel to look into the possibility of using ships as hospitals and government offices in the event of a major disaster.

Friday, January 20, 2012 12:25 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120120_19.html

No. of foreign tourists posts biggest drop in '11

The number of foreign visitors to Japan posted a record drop last year, due mainly to the March 11th disaster and the nuclear crisis in Fukushima Prefecture.

Friday, January 20, 2012 16:41 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120120_32.html

Japan to hold ceremony to mourn disaster victims

Japan is to hold a memorial ceremony on March 11th to mark the first anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan and mourn the victims of the disaster.

Friday, January 20, 2012 18:09 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120120_31.html

Foreign tourists shun Japan after March 11th

The number of overseas visitors to Japan posted a record fall last year, due mainly to the March 11th disasters and the nuclear crisis in Fukushima Prefecture.

Friday, January 20, 2012 18:30 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120120_35.html
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Yomiuri online

REVITALIZING JAPAN--Building a disaster-resistant nation / Secure traffic routes to prevent isolation of damaged areas

The following is the third installment in a series of articles examining ways to regain Japan's vitality.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120119006647.htm
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AJW

'Slow slip' may have triggered March 11 disaster

The Great East Japan Earthquake was preceded by small, repeating quakes that migrated slowly to where the disaster eventually hit last March 11, according to researchers at the University of Tokyo citing a seismological phenomenon known as "slow slip."

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311dis...AJ201201200037
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Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Central Japan Expressway to launch fixed-rate pass for foreign tourists

NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Central Nippon Expressway Co. said Thursday it will offer a fixed-rate toll pass for foreign tourists on parts of its expressways in central Japan in a bid to promote tourism in the region.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/travel/archiv...dm124000c.html

Space probe Hayabusa capsule displayed in tsunami-hit city

OFUNATO (Kyodo) -- An exhibition of a capsule and other items brought back to earth by Japan's Hayabusa unmanned space probe in 2010 began Thursday in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, in a bid to lift residents' spirits while the city tries to recover from the March 11 tsunami.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/archive/...et165000c.html

Quake causes 0.1&#37; drop in Tokyo area condo supply in 2011

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The number of new condominiums put on sale in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures in 2011 decreased 0.1 percent from the previous year to 44,494 units as the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami prompted suppliers to delay their release for six months or so, a research institute said Thursday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu154000c.html

Memorial wood to be built in disaster-hit Kesennuma

SENDAI (Kyodo) -- Planting of trees will begin in March on Mt. Amba in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, to build a wood in memory of the victims of the March 2011 quake and tsunami.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm026000c.html

Miyagi man nabbed for taking bribe over post-disaster reconstruction project

ISHINOMAKI, Miyagi -- A 47-year-old man was arrested on the night of Jan. 19 for allegedly receiving a bribe over housing demolition work ordered by the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na006000c.html

Great East Japan Earthquake may have been caused by 'slow slips': researchers

The magnitude 9.0 Great East Japan Earthquake and a smaller earlier quake may have been caused by a phenomenon known as "slow slips," according to research by the University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na010000c.html
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Jiji press

Japan to Hold Disaster Memorial Ceremony on March 11

Tokyo, Jan. 20 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government said Friday it will hold a memorial ceremony in Tokyo on March 11 to mark the first anniversary of the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck the northeast of the country.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012000553

171 Left Jobless in Disaster Areas after Unemployment Benefit Expires

Tokyo, Jan. 20 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese labor ministry said Friday that 171 people remained unemployed as of Jan. 13 in the three northeastern prefectures ravaged by the earthquake and tsunami last March after their unemployment benefit expired the previous day.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012000702

Number of Foreign Tourists in Japan Falls Record 28 Pct in 2011

Tokyo, Jan. 20 (Jiji Press)--The estimated number of foreign tourists in Japan plunged 27.8 pct from a year earlier to 6,219,300 in 2011, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Friday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012000742

Slow Slips May Have Triggered March 11 Quake: Experts

Tokyo, Jan. 20 (Jiji Press)--Major seafloor movements, called slow slips, may have given the final push that triggered the earthquake that hit Japan on March 11, Japanese seismologists said.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012000865
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JMA

08:14 JST 20 Jan 2012 38.3N 142.3E 30 km M4.2 Miyagi-ken Oki


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-200814.html

17:29 JST 20 Jan 2012 38.3N 142.2E 40 km M4.6 Miyagi-ken Oki


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-201729.html

22:31 JST 20 Jan 2012 37.8N 143.4E 10 km M4.8 Sanriku Oki


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-202231.html

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

Misogi ritual takes place in tsunami-hit Kamaishi

A group of eight men walked into the cold ocean waters off tsunami-hit Kamaishi City in Iwate Prefecture on Saturday as part of a purification ritual

Saturday, January 21, 2012 23:32 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120121_16.html
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Yomiuri online

Not all gloom for dept stores in 2011

Sluggish consumer spending caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake exacerbated declining department store sales last year, but sales at some stores in quake-hit areas showed signs of growth after the disaster.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T120120006419.htm
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AJW

Don't rush to put out flames during quake

If you live in an apartment on a high floor, it's safer to first take cover during a strong earthquake than to immediately extinguish a gas stove or kerosene heater, according to a survey by the Tokyo Fire Department.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120120006297.htm

'Reconstruction supporters' eyed

The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry has decided to station staff it calls "reconstruction supporters" in areas damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120120005897.htm

Food from disaster-hit areas shown at San Francisco fair

SAN FRANCISCO--Food items produced in areas hit by the March 11 disaster drew the attention of visitors at a three-day international food trade show in San Francisco.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120120005895.htm

REVITALIZING JAPAN--Building a disaster-resistant nation / Spreading out industrial bases to reduce disaster risk

The following is the fourth installment in a series of articles examining ways to regain Japan's vitality.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120120006917.htm
__________________________________________________ _____
AJW

Children’s debris art to be exhibited in Italy

YAMAGATA, Yamagata Prefecture--Artworks created out of debris by children in disaster-stricken Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, will be on display in Zagarolo, Italy in March.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311dis...AJ201201210021

State service planned for disaster victims on March 11

The imperial couple, the prime minister and bereaved family members will attend a government ceremony to commemorate victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake in Tokyo on March 11, the one-year anniversary of the disaster.

Residents and others in Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, observe a moment of silence on April 11, a month after the Great East Japan Earthquake. The government has decided to hold a memorial ceremony in Tokyo on March 11. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311dis...AJ201201210016

BASKETBALL / Raising funds for Miyagi, 1 bounce at a time

A young basketball fan is currently bouncing his way from Tokyo to disaster-stricken Miyagi Prefecture to raise money for quake-hit regions.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311dis...AJ201201210024
__________________________________________________ _______
Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Japan's 2011 crude steel output down 1.8&#37; on disaster

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's crude steel output in 2011 declined 1.8 percent from the previous year to 107.59 million tons, affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, an industry body said Friday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu049000c.html

E. Timorese president cheers up students in disaster-hit Sendai

SENDAI (Kyodo) -- East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta on Friday visited a high school in Sendai, which was hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and cheered up some 800 students there.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm001000c.html

Japan to test technologies to enhance farming, fishing

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan will test global positioning systems and other technologies from fiscal 2012 to enhance farming and fishing operations in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures that were devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm002000c.html

Number of Japanese studying abroad falls in 2009 for 5th yr in row

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm007000c.html

No. of visitors to Japan falls sharply due to disaster, nuclear crisis

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm009000c.html

Buoys found in Alaska may be Japan tsunami debris

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A half dozen large buoys suspected to be from Japanese oyster farms have appeared at the top of Alaska's panhandle and may be among the first debris from Japan's devastating tsunami last year.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...in033000c.html

Organizations roll out 'karaoke on wheels' to cheer up disaster victims

Several institutions have come up with a unique idea to help quake and tsunami victims relieve stress: sending them a touring "karaoke box."

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na012000c.html
__________________________________________________ _____
Jiji press

Japan to Report 1st Trade Deficit in 31 Years for 2011

Tokyo, Jan. 21 (Jiji Press)--Japan, affected by soaring fuel imports, looks certain to have run a trade deficit in 2011 for the first time since 1980 in the aftermath of the second oil crisis.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012100180
__________________________________________________ ________
Afpbbnews

Foreign volunteers in disaster area
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p4YTg8RA9yY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

Yomiuri online

REVITALIZING JAPAN--Building a disaster-resistant nation / Differences in supply systems affected recovery work

The following is the fifth installment in a series of articles examining ways to regain Japan's vitality.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120121003684.htm

Mind over matter

Men participate in daikan misogi, a ritual to pray for good health, at Nehama Beach in the city of Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, on Saturday. The day marked the start of daikan, the coldest period of winter according to the old Chinese calendar. Some years have seen as many as 50 men participate in the annual ritual, which has been sponsored by Otsuchi Inari Shrine in the neighboring town of Otsuchi for about 30 years. However, there were only nine participants this year as some regular members fell victim to the March 11 tsunami.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20120122dy01.htm
__________________________________________________ __
Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Rising construction costs hinder rebuilding of quake, tsunami-hit areas

Rising construction costs are becoming an obstacle to the smooth rebuilding of many quake and tsunami-affected regions, sources close to the industry say.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/features/arch...na006000c.html

Area 1seg mobile broadcasting enters spotlight after quake disaster

When Japan was struck by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, many people relied on "1seg" mobile TV and data broadcasts to get news on the disaster. Now across Japan, localized "Area 1seg" broadcasts are being tested in a system that could provide more area-specific information during an emergency.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na005000c.html

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

US to give dogwood to Japan's disaster-hit areas

The United States plans to present 3,000 dogwood seedlings this spring to Japan's northeast as another symbol of the 2 allies' friendship. The area was hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami last March.

Monday, January 23, 2012 05:23 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120123_02.html

School board apologizes for tsunami deaths

The education board in Ishinomaki City, northeastern Japan has admitted responsibility and apologized for the large number of deaths among students at the Okawa Elementary School in last year's tsunami.

Monday, January 23, 2012 07:42 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120123_06.html

Reconstruction agency to be set up on Feb 10

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda says the agency to oversee the reconstruction of areas damaged by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami will be launched on February 10th.

Monday, January 23, 2012 20:17 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120123_25.html
__________________________________________________ ________
Yomiuri online

'Quake anthology' to be published

An anthology on the Great East Japan Earthquake comprising the works of 17 authors in Japan and abroad will be published in February, followed by the publication of an English version in the United States and Britain in March.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120122002051.htm

Funds key to rebuilding disaster victims' lives / Local governments rough out plans to buy land, help groups revive destroyed communities

Local governments in disaster-hit areas are giving people whose homes were swept away by the March 11 tsunami a rough idea how much they are prepared to pay for their devastated land so the victims can rebuild their lives on higher ground.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120122003954.htm

3 choices for victims looking for a place to live

People who lost their homes in the March 11 disaster are left with three major choices in deciding where to live.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120122003712.htm

Leaders of reconstruction agency named

The government has tapped Yukiyoshi Minehisa, former administrative vice minister of the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, as vice minister of the reconstruction agency to be launched on Feb. 10, according to government sources.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120122003968.htm

REVITALIZING JAPAN--Building a disaster-resistant nation / Medical dispatch teams face many hurdles

The following is the sixth installment in a series of articles examining ways to regain Japan's vitality. This article examines problems faced by medical teams dispatched to areas hit by the March 11 disaster.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120122004108.htm
__________________________________________________ _______
Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Vocal group VOXRAY sends suits to high school students in disaster area

Four-member male vocal group VOXRAY is supporting disadvantaged high school students in Japan's tsunami-struck areas with custom-made suits as graduation day approaches.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/archive/...na010000c.html

Japan supermarket sales fall in 2011 for 15th straight year

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's supermarket sales in 2011 fell 0.8 percent from the previous year on a same-store basis, declining for the 15th consecutive year, due to a prolonged economic slump, intensifying competition from convenience stores and the March 11 disaster, an industry body said Monday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu122000c.html

Women hit harder in job market than men in disaster areas

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Women faced greater difficulty in finding jobs than men in the northeastern Japan area hardest hit by the March 11 disasters, a labor ministry survey on jobless benefit recipients showed.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm072000c.html

60 percent opposed to consumption tax hike: Mainichi poll

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na001000c.html

Risk of big quake in Tokyo area within 4 years may be 70%: institute

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The risk of a big earthquake hitting the southern Kanto region including Tokyo within the next four years could be as high as about 70 percent, according to a study compiled by Monday by a team of researchers at the University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm121000c.html

Ishinomaki education board admits partial fault in tsunami deaths of elementary students

ISHINOMAKI, Miyagi -- The Ishinomaki Municipal Board of Education admitted partial responsibility for the failed evacuation of a school on March 11, 2011, where 74 elementary students and 10 teachers died or are still officially missing from the tsunami.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na006000c.html and teachers are victims


__________________________________________________ ________
Jiji press

Minehisa to Be Top Bureaucrat at Japan Reconstruction Agency

Tokyo, Jan. 23 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government plans to name Yukiyoshi Minehisa, former vice land, transport and infrastructure minister, as the first vice minister of its new postdisaster reconstruction agency, informed sources said.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012300089

Japan Top Biz Lobby Against Regular Wage Hike

Tokyo, Jan. 23 (Jiji Press)--The Japan Business Federation on Monday suggested its plan to freeze a seniority-based regular wage hike in this year's "shunto" spring wage talks.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012300615

Japan to Set Up Reconstruction Agency on Feb. 10

Tokyo, Jan. 23 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government's postdisaster reconstruction headquarters decided Monday to set up a new agency to be in charge of reconstruction from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami on Feb. 10.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012300767
__________________________________________________ ________
Sankei news

Okawa school


tsunami and tide carried the boat to Hyogo pref
1200km journey

__________________________________________________ __________
JMA

07:52 JST 23 Jan 2012 38.7N 141.9E 50 km M4.1 Miyagi-ken Oki



http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-230752.html

22:43 JST 23 Jan 2012 37.9N 142.0E 40 km M4.0 Miyagi-ken Oki


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-232243.html

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

Yomiuri online

70% chance of big Tokyo earthquake 'within 4 yrs'

There is a 70 percent probability the Tokyo metropolitan area will be hit directly by a strong earthquake of magnitude-7 level within four years, according to data compiled by a University of Tokyo research team.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features...0123004717.htm

Local specialty heartens tsunami victims

OTSUCHI, Iwate--A confectionery shop has reopened in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, with its speciality "sake monaka," salmon-shaped wafers filled with sweet bean paste, delighting local residents.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120123003627.htm

School says it's responsible for deaths / Principal admits failure to protect 84 people killed, missing in March 11 disaster

ISHINOMAKI, Miyagi--The Ishinomaki municipal board of education and the principal at Okawa Primary School in the city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, have admitted responsibility for events that led to the deaths of up to 84 people killed by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120123004098.htm
__________________________________________________ ______
AJW

Academics: Major Tokyo quake more likely than govt says

A major earthquake is far more likely to hit Tokyo in the next few years than the government predicts, researchers at the University of Tokyo said on Jan. 23, warning companies and individuals to be prepared for such an event.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_...AJ201201240009

New system sends divers tsunami alert

Diving equipment maker Zero Co. has developed an underwater tsunami alert system to help keep divers safe.

An underwater tsunami alert system developed by Zero Co. informs divers when a tsunami alert is issued. (Hiroyuki Kobayashi)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311dis...AJ201201240003
__________________________________________________ __
Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Kansai airport posts sharpest-ever fall in foreign visitors in 2011

OSAKA (Kyodo) -- The number of foreign visitors to Japan through the Kansai International Airport in 2011 posted the steepest-ever fall of 22 percent to 2,734,196, due to the higher yen and the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that ravaged a wide area of northeastern Japan and triggered a nuclear crisis, Kansai International Airport Co. said in a preliminary report Monday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/travel/archiv...dm102000c.html

Olympics: 65% support for Tokyo's 2020 bid: poll

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The 2020 Tokyo Olympic bid committee said Monday its recent poll found that 65.7 percent of people nationwide and 65.2 percent of people in Tokyo support the capital's bid to host the Summer Olympics that year.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/sport...sp118000c.html

British couple travel across Japan to help bring back tourists

KANAZAWA, Japan (Kyodo) -- While tourism in Japan has been sluggish amid safety concern in the wake of the March 2011 earthquake-tsunami disaster and the subsequent nuclear crisis, a British couple recently completed a 100-day tour of all 47 prefectures in Japan to help bring foreign tourists back to the country.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm001000c.html

Noda vows to end indecisive politics, realize sales tax hike

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm076000c.html
__________________________________________________ ____________
Jiji press

Japan FY 2012 Budget Totals 228 T. Yen

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012400665
__________________________________________________ ___________
JMA

09:26 JST 24 Jan 2012 40.2N 142.5E 30 km M4.7 Iwate-ken Oki


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-240926.html

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

Japan posts 1st annual trade deficit in 31 years

Japan posted its first trade deficit in 31 years in 2011 due largely to the impact of the March earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear plant accident.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 09:53 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120125_13.html

Academy Award nominations announced

....."The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom," directed by Britain's Lucy Walker, received a nomination in the documentary short segment.
The film depicts recovery efforts in areas hit by the earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan last year. Walker shot the film immediately after the disaster.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 10:23 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120125_12.html

Annual wage negotiations kick off

.....Yonekura called for thorough discussions between management and labor to create and maintain domestic jobs in a business environment made increasingly harsh by the March 11th disaster and the strong yen.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 15:37 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120125_24.html
__________________________________________________ _________________________________
Yomiuri online

Girl shares disaster memories through diary

MINAMI-SANRIKU, Miyagi--"At 2:46 p.m., March 11, I was in the middle of my fifth lesson at school."

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120124005279.htm
__________________________________________________ __________
AJW

Niigata quake boy gives thought to disaster victims

Seven years after his rescue from near his family's buried car following a major earthquake in Niigate Prefecture touched the world, Yuta Minagawa has grown into a treasure for his grandparents.

Yuta Minagawa is rescued from a space near a car buried in a landslide in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, in October 2004 after the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311dis...AJ201201250001
__________________________________________________ __________
Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Director Lucy Walker's documentary about March 11 tsunami nominated for Academy Award

LOS ANGELES -- A documentary film about Japan's March 11 tsunami disaster titled "The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom," by British director Lucy Walker, has been nominated along with four other films for the 84th Academy Awards' Documentary Short Subject category.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/archive/...et004000c.html

Quake, strong yen lead to Japan's 1st trade deficit in 31 yrs

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese economy suffered its first annual trade deficit in 31 years in 2011 amid slowing exports, affected by the March earthquake and tsunami, the stronger yen, and a gloomier outlook for the world economy as a result of the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, the government said Wednesday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu134000c.html

Mural made by Ishinomaki children to be installed at Tokyo Station

ISHINOMAKI, Miyagi -- Children in this quake and tsunami-stricken city have begun working on a colorful mural that will be installed at Tokyo Station shortly after the first anniversary of the March 11 disasters.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na008000c.html

Remains of child tsunami victim identified and returned to family

The remains of a five-year-old boy who died in the March 11 tsunami have been identified and were returned to surviving relatives on Jan. 24.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...na018000c.html
__________________________________________________ _________
Jiji press

Japan Logs 1st Annual Trade Deficit in 31 Years

Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)--Japan fell into a trade deficit for the first time in 31 years in 2011, battered by the March 11 disaster, the yen's strengthening and higher fuel costs, Finance Ministry data showed Wednesday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012500125

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

Ken Watanabe appeals for importance of human bonds

Japanese actor Ken Watanabe has told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland how he learned the importance of human bonds from the survivors of last year's disaster.

Thursday, January 26, 2012 07:55 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120126_08.html

Japan's box-office revenues fall in 2011

Revenues at cinemas across Japan plunged last year as people shunned movies following the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast in March.

Thursday, January 26, 2012 21:02 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120126_36.html

Louvre Museum exhibition to be held in Tohoku

France's Louvre Museum will hold a traveling exhibition in disaster-hit prefectures in northeastern Japan from April.

Thursday, January 26, 2012 20:01 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120126_33.html
__________________________________________________ _______
Yomiuri online

CO2 emissions traded to help Tohoku region

Firms that emit greenhouse gases but also want to help revitalize business in the Tohoku region following the Great East Japan Earthquake are being drawn to participate in a carbon dioxide offset trading scheme.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120125006417.htm
__________________________________________________ ___
AJW

about 310 years old house at Minamisanriku town, Miyagi pref
<iframe width="300" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/evRLAKja-kA?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Professor cites Aomori coast as possible tsunami source

At least three seismic source areas may have been generating magnitude-9 class temblors about once a millennium off eastern Japan between Hokkaido and Ibaraki Prefecture, new research suggests.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311dis...AJ201201260059
__________________________________________________ ___
Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Actor Watanabe sees Japan recovering from disaster on strong bonds

DAVOS (Kyodo) -- Japanese actor Ken Watanabe on Wednesday told an international forum that Japan is gradually recovering from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, finding a ray of hope in the strong bonds formed between people in the wake of the devastating disasters in northeastern Japan.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/archive/...et165000c.html

M5.1 quake jolts Miyagi Pref., no tsunami warning issued

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.1 jolted Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan early Thursday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, issuing no tsunami warning.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm032000c.html

At least 7 M9 level quakes hit Japan over past 3,500 yrs: study

OSAKA (Kyodo) -- At least seven magnitude 9 level earthquakes have occurred in the Pacific Ocean along Japan from Hokkaido to the Sanriku region over the past 3,500 years, causing huge tsunami waves to hit coastal areas, a study by a Hokkaido University professor showed Wednesday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm042000c.html
__________________________________________________ ____
Jiji press

Asiana Air to Resume Daily Sendai-Seoul Services

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)--South Korea's Asiana Airlines plans to bring back in May the number of regular flights between Seoul and Miyagi Prefecture's Sendai to the pre-March disaster level of seven per week, informed sources said Thursday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=ind&k=2012012600423

Japanese Actor Watanabe Hopes to Spread "Kizuna" Globally

Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)--Japanese actor Ken Watanabe called Wednesday for spreading globally "kizuna," or strong bonds, which he said he witnessed in people affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012600191

(Update) Japan Corporate Service Prices Hit New Record Low in 2011

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)--Japan's corporate service prices hit a new record low in 2011 due in part to an office rent drop, the Bank of Japan said in a preliminary report Thursday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012600268

Narita Airport 2011 Traffic Down for 1st Time in 2 Yrs

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)--The number of travelers using Narita International Airport near Tokyo fell 17 pct in 2011 from the previous year to 28,068,714, the first decline in two years, the airport's operator said Thursday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012600585

Tokyo Tower's Top to be Repaired

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)--Nippon Television City Corp., the owner of Tokyo Tower, said Thursday it will repair the top section of the capital's iconic broadcasting tower that was bent during the March 2011 earthquake.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012600802

31 Overseas Buyers to Meet Disaster-Hit Makers of Traditional Crafts

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)--The Japan External Trade Organization said Thursday it will invite 31 overseas companies to visit Japan in early February to hold talks with disaster-affected makers of traditional crafts.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012600837

Magnitude-9 Quake Focal Zone Found off Iwate Pref. Coast

Tokyo, Jan. 26 (Jiji Press)--Prof. Kazuomi Hirakawa at Hokkdaido University has identified three earthquake focal zones including one off the coast of Iwate Prefecture that could be the source of a magnitude 9-class temblor.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012700014
__________________________________________________
Sankei news

Okawa school

__________________________________________________ _______
JMA

05:43 JST 26 Jan 2012 38.2N 141.7E 50 km M5.1 Miyagi-ken Oki




http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/3/2012...91-260543.html

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

NY chefs learn about Japanese cuisine

Chefs at high-end restaurants in New York have taken part in a workshop to learn about traditional Japanese cuisine.

Friday, January 27, 2012 15:41 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120127_21.html

Quake and strong yen dent car sales in 2011

Auto production in Japan fell by more than 1 million units last year due to local and overseas disasters, and the strong yen.

Friday, January 27, 2012 19:58 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120127_26.html
__________________________________________________ ____
Yomiuri online

No takers for reconstruction work / Low labor budgets leave more than 400 tenders on the table in Tohoku region

SENDAI--No contracts have been awarded in about 400 construction projects up for bid in the Tohoku region, as construction companies are shunning small-scale jobs amid a shortage of manpower in areas hard-hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake, it has been learned.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120126006374.htm

Major earthquake zone newly found off Tohoku

At least three magnitude-9 level earthquakes may have occurred at intervals of 1,000 to 1,200 years in the Pacific Ocean along coastal prefectures from Aomori to Iwate, a Hokkaido University researcher concluded in study published in Kagaku (Science) magazine on Thursday.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120126006287.htm

To Japan, with love

About 1,000 dolls made in the late 1960s and early 1970s are displayed on 30 red steps reaching six meters high at the World Folk Doll Museum in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, on Thursday, ahead of the Doll Festival on March 3. The paper lanterns were arranged in a heart shape because Suzaka Art Park, where the museum is located, is known as a "lovers' sanctuary." A museum staffer said: "2011 was a very tough year due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. I hope this display will warm the hearts of our visitors."

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20120127dy01.htm
__________________________________________________ ____
AJW

'Human curling' scores points in Miyagi city

SHIRAISHI, Miyagi Prefecture--For many people, perhaps the only time they watch curling is during the Winter Olympic Games or when nothing else is on TV.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/cool_ja...AJ201201270022
__________________________________________________ ________
Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

No. of Japanese passengers on int'l flights at Narita in Dec. marks rise

CHIBA, Japan (Kyodo) -- The combined number of Japanese passengers using Narita airport for outbound and inbound international flights stood at about 1,276,000 in December, marking the first year-on-year rise after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the operator said Thursday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/travel/archiv...dm035000c.html

Japan food, culture promoted in Davos

DAVOS, Switzerland (Kyodo) -- Japan hosted an event Thursday evening to promote its food and culture in the eastern Swiss mountain resort of Davos for participants of the World Economic Forum.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/archive/...et147000c.html

Japan movie box-office revenues plunge 17.9&#37; in 2011

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Movie box-office revenues in Japan last year plunged 17.9 percent from an all-time high in the previous year to 181.2 billion yen due to the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan, a film industry body said Thursday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/archive/...et148000c.html

Louvre Museum to hold exhibition in Japan's disaster-stricken prefectures

France's Louvre Museum will launch a touring exhibition in the three prefectures most severely affected by the March 11, 2011 disasters, museum officials said at a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 26.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/archive/...na012000c.html

Japan's 2011 consumer prices down 0.3% as deflation continues

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese economy continued to suffer deflation last year with key consumer prices falling 0.3 percent as rising energy costs were offset by falls in prices for some durable goods, government data showed Friday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu128000c.html

Noda rules out early dissolution of lower house

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm024000c.html

Noda vows to implement 'major reforms' in message to Davos forum

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm027000c.html

Uzbek president seeks greater cooperation with Japan

...Noda also thanked the president for his country's support in the aftermath of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm087000c.html
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Jiji press

8 Japan Automakers' Domestic Output Tumbles 13 Pct in 2011

Tokyo, Jan. 27 (Jiji Press)--Eight major Japanese automakers' domestic production in 2011 fell 13.4 pct from the previous year to 7,978,541 units, down for the first time in two years, due mainly to supply chain disruptions caused by the March 11 quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan and massive floods in Thailand, data from the firms showed Friday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=ind&k=2012012700887

Noda Pledges Tax, Social Security Reforms

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012700158

Two-Thirds of Japan Govt Disaster Response Bodies Fail to Take Minutes

Tokyo, Jan. 27 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government said Friday that 10 of its 15 panels and task forces to cope with the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami last March and the subsequent nuclear accident have not taken at all minutes of their meetings.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012700381

Tokyo Police to Setup Hotline with Public Utilties

Tokyo, Jan. 27 (Jiji Press)--The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department said Friday it will launch Wednesday an exclusive line between the police and 19 companies that provide electricity, gas, telecommunications and railroad services in order to collect information in the event of emergencies.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012700904

Japan to Look into Minutes Problems at Disaster Response Panels

Tokyo, Jan. 27 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada on Friday showed the government's intention to investigate the revelation that 10 of its 15 panels and task forces set up to deal with the March 2011 disaster and the subsequent nuclear crisis have failed to take the minutes of their meetings.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012700988
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Sankei news

therapy dogs at temporary house

__________________________________________________ ___________
JMA

10:09 JST 27 Jan 2012 38.0N 143.8E 10 km M4.8 Sanriku Oki


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/201201...91-271009.html

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

Yomiuri online

Louvre to send art to disaster areas

The Louvre Museum has announced it will create an exhibition that will tour the disaster-hit prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima from April.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120127006467.htm

Working in raw weather

People remove debris by hand near Okawa Primary School in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, despite snow and windy conditions. The March 11 tsunami killed 70 of the school's students and four are still missing.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20120128dy01.htm
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Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Talent agency's charity to bear several billion yen for panda lease

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A charity established by a talent agency to support reconstruction of northeastern Japan expects to shoulder several billion yen in costs related to the lease of giant pandas from China to a zoo in disaster-hit Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, according to a Japanese singer heading the group.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/archive/...et083000c.html

Actor Watanabe says inability in 1995 Kobe quake drives him now

DAVOS, Switzerland (Kyodo) -- Ken Watanabe, a Japanese actor who has appeared in a number of Hollywood films, said Thursday that his inability to do much during the 1995 earthquake that struck Kobe has driven him to begin stressing a sense of bond among people in the aftermath of the March earthquake and tsunami.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/archive/...et084000c.html

Quake-hit Sendai firm to join N.Y. trade fair with help from partner

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A T-shirt manufacturer in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture will take part in a New York trade fair opening Saturday after overcoming setbacks from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster with help from a traditional textile dyeing firm in Kyoto.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu059000c.html

All major Japanese automakers log domestic output falls in 2011

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Total domestic production by Japan's eight major automakers dropped 13.4 percent in 2011 from the previous year to 7,978,541 units, with all manufacturers logging falls due largely to output and supply chain disruptions caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, according to their data released Friday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu062000c.html

Baseball: Quake-hit Ishinomaki school to appear at spring invitational

OSAKA (Kyodo) -- Ishinomaki Kogyo High School in Miyagi Prefecture, one of the hardest hit areas by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami last year, was selected Friday among the 32 schools that will participate in the national high school invitational tournament.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm002000c.html

Foreign workers in Japan up 5.6% in Oct. from year earlier

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A total of 686,246 foreign workers were employed by companies and other establishments in Japan as of the end of October, up 5.6 percent from a year earlier, the labor ministry said Friday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm006000c.html

200 km-long active fault found on seabed off Kii Peninsula

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- An active fault around 200 kilometers in length, which is believed to have caused massive earthquakes in the past, has been found on the seabed off the Kii Peninsula on the country's main island of Honshu, researchers at the University of Tokyo said Friday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm008000c.html


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Jiji press

"Angel's Voice" in Tsunami Evacuation to Be Told at Saitama Schools

Saitama, Jan. 28 (Jiji Press)--A story of a young Japanese woman who continued to try to evacuate people in her community hit by the March 2011 tsunami until her last moment through her voice will be taught in moral education classes at public schools in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012012800236 moral education?? it matters not how a man dies. be survive
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JMA

09:22 JST 28 Jan 2012 40.2N 142.5E 40 km M5.6 Iwate-ken Oki




http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-280922.html

21:44 JST 28 Jan 2012 40.2N 142.4E 40 km M4.9 Iwate-ken Oki




http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/201201...84-282144.html

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

Japan holds tourism promotion event in Singapore

Japan is holding a one-month tourism campaign in Singapore, in an effort to reverse the effects of the March disaster last year.

Sunday, January 29, 2012 05:27 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120129_03.html

Giant fault to magnify tsunami found in west Japan

Scientists have found a 200-kilometer-long cliff on the seabed off Kii Peninsula, western Japan. They warn it could magnify the scale of tsunami in the event of a major earthquake.

Sunday, January 29, 2012 14:51 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120129_14.html
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Yomiuri online

Quake efforts blamed for rise in snow mishaps

This winter's heavier snowfall has seen more than 500 people across seven prefectures die or become injured in snow-related accidents, including cases in which they had been trying to remove snow, it has been learned.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120128003151.htm
__________________________________________________ ____
AJW

PHOTO/ Tokyo Tower gets a makeover to replace quake damage

Work to replace the top section of Tokyo Tower, which tilted sharply as a result of the magnitude-9.0 Great East Japan earthquake last year, is now under way.

Damage to Tokyo Tower due to the Great East Japan Earthquake is evident in this photo taken soon after the earthquake struck on March 11 last year. (Miyuki Inoue)

Steel girders are lifted up to the top of the Special Observatory of Tokyo Tower in Tokyo?s Minato Ward on Jan. 27. (Hiroki Endo)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_...AJ201201290003
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Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Monks, craftsman to deliver 1,000 jizo statues to disaster-hit areas

SENDAI (Kyodo) -- Monks and a Buddhist icon craftsman from Yamanashi and Kyoto prefectures have launched a project to deliver 1,000 palm-sized wooden jizo deity statues to areas hit by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/archive/...et008000c.html

Tohoku-native publishes book on region's 'real' history

"The lack of coherence and the persistent confusion that characterizes this book represent my true state of mind," says Akemi Yamauchi, author of the newly released history book, "Kodomo Tohoku-gaku" (Study of Tohoku for children).

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/features/arch...na005000c.html

34% walked home from downtown Tokyo after March quake: survey

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Some 34 percent of people walked home from their workplaces or schools in Tokyo's 23 wards after the March 11 earthquake without waiting for the resumption of train and other public transportation services in the Tokyo metropolitan, a survey by the Railway Technical Research Institute showed Saturday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm001000c.html i walked home from my office, over 3 hours !!

Japan 'is recovering' from March disaster, Noda tells Davos forum

DAVOS, Switzerland (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos on Saturday that Japan "is recovering" from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...in027000c.html

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

Hiroshima Atom Bomb Dome undergoing check

The Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima is undergoing an inspection to check for possible deterioration from age.

.....A quake-resistance test will be conducted for the first time to see if the dome would be able to withstand a powerful earthquake of 6-minus on the Japanese scale of zero to 7 and to determine if it needs to be reinforced.

Monday, January 30, 2012 13:41 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120130_14.html
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Yomiuri online

Toyota's global sales hit a bump / March 11 disaster, strong yen knock automaker from top spot in 2011

After four years as the world's leading automaker, Toyota Motor Corp.'s crown slipped in 2011 due to intensifying global competition and production cuts forced by the March 11 disaster. Although Toyota expects a rebound in sales in 2012, the road to regaining the top spot looks to be anything but smooth.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T120129002720.htm

63&#37; see need for consumption tax hike

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120129003315.htm
__________________________________________________ ________
AJW

PHOTO/ Earthquake evacuees feast on tuna

KAMAISHI, Iwate Prefecture--An expert sushi chef carved an entire 38-kilogram bluefin tuna for earthquake evacuees on Jan. 29 as part of a New Year event to raise morale in this quake-hit city.

Evacuees in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, watch a sushi chef carve a tuna on Jan. 29. (Shingo Kuzutani)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311dis...AJ201201300008
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Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Anxiety and inattention over Tokyo's next Big One

Last week, the possibility of a new political party being formed under the leadership of Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara emerged, but Tokyoites were more shocked by news indicating there was a 70 percent chance of a magnitude 7-level earthquake hitting the capital within four years.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/...na002000c.html

UAE sheikh to visit Quake-hit areas, Hiroshima

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A member of one of the royal families in the United Arab Emirates, who established a friendship association for youths in Japan and the UAE after the March 11 earthquake, will come to Japan Wednesday to visit areas hit by the disaster and the city of Hiroshima, a Japanese sponsor of the association said.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm065000c.html


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Jiji press

Sendai May Relocate Inland Residents Hit by Quake-Caused Landslides

Sendai, Miyagi Pref., Jan. 30 (Jiji Press)--The city of Sendai, the capital of the northeastern Japan prefecture of Miyagi, is considering collective relocation of residents in the city's inland areas hit by a series of landslides following the March 11 earthquake last year.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012013000224

Over 40,000 Migrate from 3 Disaster-Hit Japan Prefectures in 2011

Tokyo, Jan. 30 (Jiji Press)--The number of people who migrated from three disaster-hit northeastern Japan prefectures exceeded that of those who moved to the prefectures by 41,226 in 2011, the internal affairs ministry said Monday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012013000788
_____________________________________________
Sankei news

Atomic Bomb Dome

__________________________________________________ _
JMA

10:30 JST 30 Jan 2012 38.5N 141.9E 50 km M4.0 Miyagi-ken Oki


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-301030.html

[makoto]

Re: Japan - Major Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 on Mar 11, Many thousands dead &amp; missing - March 27+

Population in Tohoku declines

The 3 Japanese prefectures hit hard by the March 11th disaster experienced a net decline in population of more than 40,000 people.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 07:20 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120131_03.html

Scientists warn of huge quake east of Japan Trench

Japanese researchers say the March 11th disaster has increased the risk of a major quake and tsunami east of the Japan Trench off northeastern Japan.


Tuesday, January 31, 2012 11:03 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120131_09.html

Tsunami alerts to be revised

Japan's Meteorological Agency has come up with new guidelines for issuing tsunami alerts after an earthquake.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 13:08 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120131_16.html

Rock band to tell the world about 3.11 disaster

A Japanese-Canadian rock band has been named an envoy to tell the world how Japan is recovering from last year's earthquake and tsunami.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 19:05 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120131_28.html i love them

<iframe width="300" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ldo7-1Swcoo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Monkey Majik/Headlight <iframe width="300" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zc4AkEC_UWU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Monkey Majik x Yoshida brothers/Change
http://www.monkeymajik.com/
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Yomiuri online

REVITALIZING JAPAN--Building a disaster-resistant nation / Govts use river, forest management to mitigate floods

This is the first installment in the second half of the first part of a series of articles examining ways to restore Japan's vitality.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120130004935.htm

New quake system created / Researchers to be able to accurately predict earthquake aftermaths

A University of Tokyo research team has developed a system that will use a next-generation supercomputer to simultaneously predict tremors, tsunami and movements in the Earth's crust after a massive earthquake occurs.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120130004007.htm
__________________________________________________ ____________
AJW

Ministry wants foreign students in Japan to meet the locals

To stem a decline in foreign enrollment following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the education ministry wants to connect foreign students with local residents and ensure they feel tied to their communities.

A student from Canada tries on a noh outfit during a cultural experience event in Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture on Jan. 28. (Kyosuke Yamamoto)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_...AJ201201310001

Atomic Bomb Dome gets a structural all-clear

The skeletal Atomic Bomb Dome, an iconic symbol of Hiroshima's 1945 atomic bombing, shows no signs of structural decay, according to a periodic inspection of the site.

The Atomic Bomb Dome is covered with a construction frame as part of a periodic inspection on Jan. 20. The site is in Hiroshima's Naka Ward. (Masanori Takahashi)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_...AJ201201310021

Cold snap keeps earthquake evacuees in the deep freeze

Local governments are scrambling to improve insulation in temporary housing units for Great East Japan Earthquake evacuees amid some of the coldest weather experienced in a decade.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311dis...AJ201201310058

Exhibition of tsunami-damaged photos under way in Tokyo

Even though about 1,500 family photographs gathered from the debris of the March 11 tsunami are no longer identifiable, Munemasa Takahashi thought they still could tell a powerful story.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311dis...AJ201201310003
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Mainichi jp(Kyodo, AP)

Japan's 2011 jobless rate, excluding quake-hit areas, falls to 4.5&#37;

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's unemployment rate, excluding areas hit hard by the earthquake and tsunami last March, dropped to an average 4.5 percent in 2011 from 5.0 percent the previous year, reflecting the overall economic recovery trend in the country, government data showed Tuesday.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu120000c.html

Japan's industrial output falls 3.5% in 2011

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu121000c.html

Japan's auto output in 2011 falls 12.8%, exports down 7.8%

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/busin...bu147000c.html

Panel proposes more explicit tsunami warnings

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- An expert panel under the Japan Meteorological Agency on Tuesday proposed using words such as "gigantic" or "high" in issuing the first tsunami warning in the event of a huge earthquake with a magnitude larger than 8, as well as phrases to urge immediate evacuation.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/natio...dm141000c.html
__________________________________________________ ___
Jiji press

Japan to Revise Tsunami Alert System Methodology

Tokyo, Jan. 31 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Meteorological Agency on Tuesday decided to revise the methodology for issuing its tsunami alerts as it drew fire over its estimation of tsunami unleashed by the March 11 earthquake last year.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012013100561

Japan Construction Orders Rise for 2nd Straight Year

Tokyo, Jan. 31 (Jiji Press)--Postdisaster reconstruction in Japan helped orders received by 50 major Japanese construction companies to rise 4.0 pct in 2011 to 10,657.7 billion yen, up for the second straight year, the infrastructure ministry said Tuesday.

http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2012013100937
__________________________________________________ _________
JMA

13:35 JST 31 Jan 2012 39.0N 142.4E 30 km M4.1 Iwate-ken Oki


http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/2/2012...91-311335.html