The situation has changed quite a bit

In the time that I haven’t updated, the situation has changed quite a bit.
Up until last month, I thought that as long as care was exercised, Tokyo was fairly safe.

However, lately I’ve changed my mind and think that type of thinking isn’t good.
Of course, I do not think there is any problem with travel lasting around 1-2 weeks. (However, some degree of caution is necessary).

However, I no longer have confidence in recommending Tokyo as a place to live for a long period of time. This is because I have increasingly heard stories of people with deteriorating health in the Tohoku and Kantou area. Of course, even from Tokyo.

For example, small children are having nose bleeds (even though they rarely had them before), diarrhea and stomach problems, and adults are having sore throats and feeling more tired than they ever have before. These types of stories are popping up here and there.

I cannot confirm whether or not this is because of the influence of radiation. It may be due to stress from the earthquake and the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Reactor.

I personally do not have any unusual symptoms. I do not have any close friends who have shown symptoms like those above.
(I’ve only noticed that lately I easily become tired. However, it may be because I do not often go outside or move around.)

The amount of radiation in the air in Tokyo has decreased, but the amount in the soil has increased. Unfortunately, at a park within the city, the radiation levels in some places are comparable to those in areas called “Preferred Evacuation Zones” during the Chernobyl incident.

In addition, it is important to be careful of internal radiation exposure from certain foods.

Opinions on this vary depending on the person, but I do not recommending eating or drinking vegetables (especially those with leaves), rice, and milk from Tohoku or Kantou, meats (beef, pork, chicken) produced in Tohoku or Kantou, tea leaves from Shizuoka, or seafood from the Pacific Ocean.

I do not think there are any problems for those traveling here for 1-2 weeks, but one of the reasons I cannot recommend living in Tokyo for a long time is this problem with food.

At restaurants and izakayas, you do not know where the vegetables and meats come from. These places also use tap water. (Please check the entry I wrote earlier about water.)

If you go to the supermarket, the place of origin is written on vegetables and such, but it is not written on the lunch boxes and side dishes sold at convenience stores.

For those that still wish to live or must live in Tokyo, I strongly recommend checking the place of origin on foods at the supermarket or buying vegetables and such from farms further west than Kansai.

According to a journalist (currently working for a TV station), he anticipates that because radiation levels continue to be low in Tokyo, a critical state will probably not arise (for example, the development of leukemia or cancer), but there will be people in bad health.

I am terribly sad to write this, but please remember that it is not impossible.

At present, I cannot recommend living in Tokyo for a long time, but I believe places west of Osaka, Kyuushuu, and Okinawa are still safer.

For the people would like to buy Japanese goods but are feeling uncertain.

Today I would like to write for the people would like to buy Japanese goods but are feeling uncertain. (With the exception of food and drink.)

In my previous entry, I wrote “You cannot become exposed to radiation via a person with radiation exposure.”

Radioactivity is not a virus and it is not a contagious disease.
Additionally, I also wrote this in my previous entry, but radioactive material can be rubbed or washed off.

However, if you are very concerned, I recommend that you do not take the cardboard box the items are packaged within into your room. Instead, take the items out of it in your foyer or outside.

If you are still concerned, I recommend lightly patting down or brushing off the dust from your items. If the items are clothing, send them to the cleaners or wash them.

The other month, Imabarisan towels(今治タオル/famous towels from Imabari area） were stopped by customs in Italy, but this was not because radioactivity was detected from the Imabari towels, it was a proprietary decision by the Italian customs agency.

The amount of radiation in the air is currently not high enough to be a problem. (With the exception of a certain area of Fukushima.)

However, there are areas in which the amount of radiation on the ground is slightly high. For that reason, there is cause for concern about vegetables and such that are harvested from the soil.
However, items aside from food and drink “do not enter the mouth (aren’t absorbed by the body)” so it is very difficult to believe that radiation could enter your body through Japanese products.

Furthermore, Takeda Kunihiko, a doctor of engineering, advisory committee member of the cabinet office’s atomic energy commission, and Chubu University professor, writes in his Q and A on his blog that radioactive material can be rubbed off.

http://takedanet.com/2011/04/post_96d9.html

For you that would like to travel to Japan and concern about safety

Today I would like to write for those that would like to travel to Japan.

I believe there are some who are concerned about contagions from people who have been exposed to radiation as well as people who are feeling uncertain.
First of all, even if you come in contact with a person who has been exposed to radiation, they cannot pass any contagion to you at all.

Radioactivity is not a virus. Things that are possess radioactivity are materials containing radionuclides. Radiation exposure occurs when these are breathed in or are mixed into food that enters the body.

Accumulated radionuclides within the body destroy cells. However, you cannot become exposed to radiation by coming close to a person with radiation exposure.

Furthermore, radioactive material can be rubbed or cleaned away.
For example, even if you come in contact with a person who was near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, they have likely changed their clothes and taken a bath, so there is very little chance that radioactive materials is still on that person’s body.

If you are still worried, when you return to your hotel from sight-seeing spots, restaurants, concerts, clubs, and other places, take off your coat and lightly pat it down or wipe it to remove the dust. Then I recommend you take a shower.

In addition, I have some advice regarding food and drink, but I wrote about this in a previous entry so please read that one.

Furthermore, Takeda Kunihiko, a doctor of engineering, advisory committee member of the cabinet office’s atomic energy commission, and Chubu University professor, writes in his Q and A on his blog that you cannot become exposed to radiation by coming in contact with another person who has been exposed.

http://takedanet.com/2011/03/post_ac85.html

(I appreciate if you could translate this page.)

My recent post is for short travel (less than 2 weeks) to Tokyo and around Tokyo, not for long term stays.


You don't have to worry about travel&long stay for Osaka, Kyoto, Koube(Kansai-area) , Kyushu area, Shikoku area and Okinawa.

Honestly speaking....Staying in Tokyo is dangerous?-mid-April

I think many of people want to know if staying in Tokyo is still dangerous or not dangerous anymore.

I don't know how other countries report this issue, but I want to tell my idea as one of Japanese who is living in Tokyo.

If you visit Tokyo for travelling and stay there less than 2 weeks, I don't think you have to worry
.
I think you will be able to enjoy Tokyo, but I don't recommend you drink tap water even though　ｔhe Tokyo metropolitan government says iodine is not detected.
(Because  'not detected' means less than 20 becquerels per 1 kilo gram. It doesn't mean 'zero'. According to the guidelines for drinking-water quality by WHO, they set 10 becquerels per 1 kilo gram.)

Also, I recommend you are careful of foods, but I don't think you have to be hysterical because it is short trip less than 2 weeks.

(What foods...?  I will post it  some other day, or I will answer you if you send me a message via facebook..)

If you are going to travel Osaka and any other Kansai-are, Shikoku, Sanin, Kyushuu area, and Hokkaido, I don't think you have to worry about it at all. You can drink tap water too now.


Then, about long stay in Tokyo....?

Honestly speaking, I think it's too early to think about staying (living) in Tokyo for long, more than 3 months.

I think just 'traveling(short time)' and 'living(long time)' is different.
I am going to tell about it more (the reason and so on) some other time.

However, if you have trustworthy friend(s) who is Japanese (native speaker) in Tokyo and if  you can contact with him/her often , I don't oppose your long-stay..

Trustworthy..means, that he/she has accurate information of Fukusima daiichi condition, and must   tell you what you can do (what you can eat/drink) and what you cannot do (what you cannot eat/drink)

Because Japanese mass media doesn't seem to offer accurate coverage of the issue.
Unfortunately JPN government and mass media have concealed various facts.

That's the reason why I recommend you should have trustworthy Japanese friends in Tokyo if you want long-stay. You can get accurate information from them instead of Japanese mass media.
(If you have ever lived in Tokyo for long time and you still have friend(s) there, I think you can come.)

If you don't have any Japanese friend and if it is first time for you to come,  I don' recommend long-stay..

(but again, short trip is ok....).

Living or staying long time in Kansai, Shikoku, Sanin, Kyushuu area and Hokkaido is not dangerous..

However I think this condition will change by a prospect of Fukusima Daiichi nuclear power plant's restore.

When I recommend long-stay in Tokyo, I will post here. .. and I hope I will do it....

Rradiation and Rradioactivity

I think we have to know that 'radiation' and 'radioactivity' is different.
(放射能=radiation 放射性物質=radioactivity)

We can know  'dose of radiation in the air' by checking geiger counter like this.

Radioactivity is carried by window and rain, then fall to the ground (river and see too).
Vegetables are contaminated  by radiation-contaminated soil, Fishes are contaminated by radiation-contaminated sea.
Cows, Pings and Chickens are contaminated by eating radiation-contaminated grasses on the ground.

If we eat radiation-contaminated vegetables, beefs, porks and chickens, we will be exposed radiation (internal exposure).

I am not paranoid about radiation dose in the air in Tokyo so far, but I am very careful to foods and drinks now.

I said I am 'very' careful, but some people don't mind it at all. People have different idea.

I am trying to do my best for telling accurate information, but my blog is just one of information source.  What you believe....it's your choice.

Anti nuke demonstration-Kouenji,Tokyo 10th April '11

4.10「高円寺 原発やめろデモ!!!!!!」の映像に「ずっとウソだったんだぜ remix 4


10 April in Kouenji - Stop nuclear demonstration // song by 'zutto uso dattandaze'

French embassy presents 'No health threat traveling Tokyo'

French embassy express the opinion (for French people in Japan) that staying in Tokyo carries little risk of health while they are giving warning them not to go to Fukushima, Miyagi, Ibaraki and Tochigi-prefecture.
 (Fukushima and Miyagi are in Tohoku area, Ibaraki and Tochigi are in Kanto area.)

French embassy advised French people in Japan to evacuate Tohoku and Kanto area on 13 March.

They updated their website on 14th April, and they advise French people not to go to the 4 prefctures, but they have a view that traveling (and staying) to the rest of the area is no health threat.

Quote from French embassy page

2/ Les déplacements dans les préfectures de Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki et Tochigi restent donc formellement déconseillés. En revanche, résider ou voyager à Tokyo ne comporte pas actuellement de risque pour la santé des populations. Résider ou voyager dans le reste du pays ne présente pas de problème particulier.

French embassy website:

http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs_909/pays_12191/japon_12268/index.html

Tokyo Disneyland reopened!

Tokyo Disneyland, located in Chiba-prefecture reopend today, on 15th (Fri) April, after 1-month postquake closure.

TV news says that because of planned outage, it's poor illumination inside. However they are going to set 3 privately-owned electrical power facilities.

They opens at 8am and close at 6pm, that is earlier than usual.

Tokyo Disneyland reopen is delightful, especially today, is 15th anniversary since they opened it in 1983.

RADIATION LEVELS in Western Tokyo

I've just got an useful information(web page) from my friend

RADIATION LEVELS in Western Tokyo　
http://news24japan.com/index.html

There's a professor in ICU uni who's personally measuring the radiation level.
If you're in western Tokyo(or even in metropolitan area) ,or you are going to visit Tokyo, it can be your help. 

Level 7, Fukushima Daiichi

The Japanese government's nuclear safety agency has decided to raise the crisis level of the Fukushima Daiichi power plant accident from 5 to 7, the worst on the international scale on 12 April.

Honestly speaking, I am not surprised at all to hear the news

Some of Japanese people have doubted Japanese government's announcement. They said that the level was 5 at first, but some of us were thinking the level is same as Chernobyl from the beginning (of the accident). I was one of them.

I check geiger counter's page everyday as I told.  The numerical number of radiation in the air in Tokyo never jeopardizes me, and people are living in Tokyo.
(Of course I have to be careful foods/drinks and some other things too though...)

This is what I am thinking now.

External exposure & Internal exposure

I think Japanese people (especially people live in Tohoku and Kanto area) have had to think about 'External exposure' and 'Internal exopsure' (to radiation) since Fukushima daiichi accident.

Exposure to radiation must be thought by total of amount; external and internal.


I am not paranoid about 'external exposure very much now. You understand it when you read this post.
I can check sieverts by geiger counter.

However I  should be careful about internal exposure too.

Internal exposure... it means we have to avoid foods and drinks that are　radioactively-contaminated.


In March, Radioactive iodine found in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Yamanashi, Gunma and Tochigi water supply

The iodine level in Tokyo was 210 becquerels per liter at the Kanamachi purification center which serves Tokyo's 23 central wards, along with Musashino, Machida, Tama, Inagi and Mitaka cities.
(I am living in Musashino.)
100 becquerels is the maximum level considered safe for consumption by infants


Radioactive iodine has not been detected since　28th March, but Tokyo waterworks department says that 'not detected' means less than 20 becquerels per 1 kilo gram.

According to the guidelines for drinking-water quality by WHO, they set 10 becquerels per 1 kilo gram.

Btw, I haven't drunk tap water since 14 or 15th March. I've drunk bottled water and used it for cooking.
Some people do same as me, but not so many people. Many people don't mind it (except people who have infants.)

Because I am worrier, I'm not going to change this lifestyle, at least for 2-3 months.
I do not want to increase total amount of exposure as possible as I can.

'Be careful about water'- is one of way to avoid internal exposure, but it's just my idea because there are many people  in Tokyo who don't care about it at all.

Not drinking tap water...is inconvenient for me (not only me but also Japanese ppl), but if you have got used not to drink tap water, life in Tokyo may not be so inconvenient for you.

If you go/stay to(in) Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu area, I don't think you have to worry about this issue so far.
（Radioactive iodine were not detected in the areas.)

Tochigi-declaration of safety for tourists

Tochigi prefecture（栃木県） has issued declaration of safety for tourists on 5th April.

http://www.pref.tochigi.lg.jp/kinkyu/kankoanzensengen.html


Tochigi is located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu, Japan.

Famous　Shinto shrine and UNESCO World Heritage Site., Nikkō Tosho-gu (日光東照宮) is  located in Tochigi prefecture.

Tochigi is about 140km far from Fukusima 1 nuclear power plant.

They say tourist sites in Tochigi　are largely unaffected by Eastern Japan Great Earthquake Disaster and Fukushima nuclear accident.

Tochigi prefecture website (foregin languages)
http://www.pref.tochigi.lg.jp/english/foreignlanguage.html

Anti nuke demonstration

Anti nuke demonstration was hold in Kouenji, Tokyo on 10th April.
They say that about 15,000 joined the demonstration.



I've heard some French media criticized that Japanese television stations have aired  only comedy programs a, Japanese people never think about radioactive contamination seriously, and they have been just a patient because they cannot quit work.



Although Japanese television aried comedy programs a lot, many Japanese people think about this issue seriously, and young Japanese people started thinking about 'nuclear problem.

I want overseas people to know about it.

Radiation dose in Tokyo-No fear at all

(Please read my last post to grasp this topic   )

You can see 'CPM ' on the chart on the page.

(quoted from http://park30.wakwak.com)

CPM X 0.00833 = micro sievert(μSv)/hour　

The CPM of Tokyo is about 20-30(9th April),
so 20-30 x 0.00833:  it's about 0.167-0.249 micro sieverts.(μSv) 
This is hourly data.

Next please check this page.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12722435

(quoted: BBC website)

You can see Q&A: Health effects of radiation on the page.
It says that 2 millisieverts per year (mSv/yr) is 'Typical background radiation experienced by everyone (average 1.5 mSv in Australia, 3 mSv in North America)'

This is yearly data.
0.167-0.249 micro sieverts.(μSv) is hourly data, so

0.167 x 24(hour) x 365(year) = 1462.92 micro sieverts/yr

1 micro sievert(μSv)　X 1000 = 1 milli sievert(mSv)

So 1462.92 micro sieverts. is 1.463 milli sieverts, it is under 2 millie sieverts.

BBC is trustworthy as everyone knows.

That is why we don't leave Tokyo and we are not paranoid with radiation very much now.

Of course I check this page everyday.  If CPM is over 30-40 everyday, I would leave Tokyo.

Geiger-Müller counter

I think many Japanese people who concern about radioactivity check this famous site, 'Geiger counter'
http://park30.wakwak.com/~weather/geiger_index.html

This website is by Mr.Ishikawa, who measures radiation dose by using a Nuclear radiation detector called Geiger-Muller counter by Black Cat Systems.
The detector is installed in Hino, Tokyo.( It takes about 40 min from Shinjuku,Tokyo)

Here is 'Japan quake radioactive material monitoring post MA'.

I am going to tell about radiation dose and effect by using the data tomorrow.


Btw, Mr.Ishikawa has facebook page.

I recommend check the page and 'like' it.