President Obama's Condolences to Japan

President Obama's message that he wrote in the book of condolences at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC on March 17th has been translated into Japanese. 

Electricity Conservation Posters in Japan

Here are just a few of the great poster created by a community of graphic designers on Twitter to encourage energy conservation in Japan.  To see the rest of the posters (English translations included), go here.

JET participants dedicated to stay and assist their Japanese neighbors

This is a great article by Mainichi Daily News that tells of the many JET participants in the Tohoku region of Japan who are determined to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their Japanese colleagues, neighbors, and friends and work with them in this great time of need.  This is what the JET Program is all about.

Article"Japan donations: poor give to rich"

Hello friends!

At the suggestion of Yukiko, I'd like to share this article with you.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/3/588865d6-515f-11e0-a9c6-00144feab49a.html

Afghans in Afghanistan with not much to give have been donating to Japan relief efforts. This past week, in Tai Maskan (a housing project area from the Soviet communist era in Kabul city) there was a monetary donation drive where people were wedging folded Afghanis (Afghan currency) into cash boxes. This money was collected by the neighborhood of Tai Maskan. In Kandahar, $50,000 was put together for Japan relief by citizen efforts. Kandahar, in the south, is a hotspot for US/NATO war activity.

Speaking with Afghans, they tend to view Japan as a well developed society with generous people. The people interviewed in Tai Maskan said they felt for the Japanese people who have had to go through such a disaster, and were aware help efforts from Afghanistan don't seem that big compared to other nations, but still they wanted to give what they could to the Japanese people. Japan by the way has been working in humanitarian, aid, and recovery efforts in Afghanistan for years. Japan's good will toward Afghanistan has been translated through such donations by ordinary Afghans in a time of need and support.

If we want to build better communities among nations, solidarity and compassion, it begins with doing good, especially by those who are among the haves for the have-nots, and acting on common positives for the future.

- Zarin, Kabul, Afghanistan

Special importance this year of Washington, DC's National Cherry Blossom Festival

With the blooming of the sakura, or cherry blossoms, in Washington, DC comes the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This is always a special festival for the nation's capital, but with the opening ceremonies just 15 days following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, it is that much more poignant.  Here is a CNN video on this issue, with a dear friend Noritaka Takezawa, describing what the sakura mean to him and other Japanese this year.

Planned Blackout!!! 計画停電

Can you believe this photo?!
An area is covered with darkness without lights.
It's in Tokyo.

This is the "planned blackout"

Media focuses on radiation issues and tragedy caused by tsunami. However, it also caused a shortage of electricity supply, food supply and water supply.

Damage on the power stations of TEPCO in Fukushima resulted in shortage of electricity supply.

"Planned blackout" is a technical way of avoiding a large scale blackout in Tokyo where critical institutions and governmental agencies are located. Tokyo and other 8 prefectures and divided into 5 groups (except central are of Tokyo) and each group experience 3-hours of no electricity per day. Well, some have twice a day.

No transportation, no light, no heaters...
Worse thing is that planned blackout do not allow exceptions, meaning no stoplights at carrefour, no medical device including respiratory apparatus.
Those who do experience blackout at night see total darkness. And STARS!!!

Obama, Biden, and Clinton Send Messages of Hope and Support to Japan

Last week on March 17th President Obama paid a visit to the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC to sign the book of condolences for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Today, Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Clinton also stopped by the Embassy to sign the book.  Each took time to write a heartfelt message and to show the strong support that the United States, both the Government and the people, send to Japan and all those who have been affected from the natural disaster.