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.

How far from Fukushima Ⅰnuclear power plant to Tokyo?

Fukushima Ⅰnuclear power plant ('Fukusima Daiichi' ） located on a 3.5-square-kilometre (860-acre) site in the towns of Okuma and Futaba in the Futaba District of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
(Japan and Fukushima on Google Earth map of Japan  -quoted - shared by bizenjirapid213 on Twitpic)

Tokyo is about 230km(-250km) from Fukushima Daiichi. ( Osaka is about 600km.)

You can check how far from Fukushima Daiicihi to the place where you're going to visit. (Japanese)
http://www.benricho.org/map_straightdistance/

Shibuya is 229.2km far from Fukushima Daiichi.

The Japanese government  urged people who lived within a distance between 20-30km from the reactor to remain in the room.
The US forces has forbid someone to enteｒ witinin 90km from the reactor on 17th March.

Personally remaining indoors is ridiculous. I think people live within 20-30km should evacuate immediately.

30km and 90km is big difference.　Japanese people don't know the reason because the Japanese government has offered no clear explanation.

30km or 90km...which is the correct? I don't know but people live within 30-90km should be careful, but it is just my idea.

Fukusima Daiichi may remind you Chernovyl disaster in 1986 and you may be panicked.

After tomorrow, I am going to tell why we (people living around Kanto area, including Tokyo) are not paranoid about radiation by using some data later.

I am living 233km far from Fukusima Daiichi. I don't think I need to be paranoid very much so far.

We can still smile in Tokyo-Report from Japan

I have made up my mind to start this blog because I know there are many non-Japanese who fear radiation from Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant.

Honestly speaking, I was scared of radiation much in last month, but I am not scared of it very much now because I realized that I don't have to be paranoid about radiation as long as I live in Tokyo and take care some in some ways.

Many non-Japanese lived in Japan have returned their countries.
Many non-Japanese canceled travel to Japan.
Many non-Japanese canceled enrollment in Japanese schools.

I do understand their feeling. I do Not criticize them. I would do same if I were in the same boat.

However I know there are people who still want to back to Japan, travel to Japan and buy Japanese products from Japan.

What I can do for them is I report my life (not only me but also other Japanese ppl) in Tokyo.

I am living in Tokyo.
I think I still have to take care, but I can live here, eat Japanese foods, drink Japanese beverage&Sake, buy Japanese goods for using it,  and go to concerts, clubs, Karaoke..etc

Here is Not hell.  This is what I want everyone to know.