Category Archives: Tsunami

Iwata City, ma Motors, Shizuoka, Tsunami, Tsunami Shelter

Tsunami Shelter New Type by Tajima Motors Co.: SAFE PLUS in Iwata City!

March 23, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A new type of Tsunami Shelter called “SAFE PLUS” was announced in the Shizuoka Newspaper today!

CHECK VIDEO HERE!
LOOK AT FEATURES HERE!

Tajima Corporation (headquarters in Tokyo) has developped a new type of Tsunami Shelter in its Automobile Research Center in Iwata City.
They are looking forward to to selling a hundred of them in 2014 alone.

The shelter has the following dimensions:
Length: 6.20 meters
Height: 2.30 meters
Width: 2.30 meters
Weight (empty): 3.30 tons

It can house uo to 20 persons.
Using a special ramp it can also rapidly accommodate refugees on wheelchairs.
Its first trial model was tested in April last year.

The price tag is 4,500,000 yen (45,000 US $).

Tajima Motors is mainly targeting companies in dangerous zones!

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-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Earthquake, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism, Tsunami, Yui

Tsunami Hitting Mount Fuji!

December 21, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

I reckon I had a hard time choosing the title and might risk some complaints!

I found this sign near the harbor of Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, famous for its cherry shrimp/sakura ebi fishermen!
It a zone particularly sensitive to tsunami although escape would be far easier than in large cities.
Mount Fuji looking over the tsunami was too good to ignore!
Note the sakura ebi design!

The text says: “Earthquake! Tsunami! Take refuge immediately!”

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

笑い, 観光, Humor, Japan, Tourism, Tsunami

Weird Japan (18): Tsunami Capsule Shelter Pucapuca in Shizuoka!

September 6, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

It is the Japanese new invention!

Called Tsunami Capsule, Tsunami Shelter, Pucapuca, Runfun, etc, it is supposed to protect you from tsunami as it is devised to float atop any moving water without capsizing!

The cost: a whooping 1,000,000 yen!

And it is made by Ton Craft company in Makinohara City, Shizuoka prefecture!

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Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

美食, Earthquake, Education, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Radioactivity, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, Tsunami

Cruise finds Fukushima pollution: Good News-Sea radiation levels near Fukushima are not harmful, by Jonathan Amos of the BBC!

February 23, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Just found this article written by Jonathan Amos for the BBC

Marine organisms were collected for evaluation

Radioactive elements from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant have been detected in seawater and marine organisms up to 600km from Japan.

But the scientists who made the discovery stress the natural radioactivity of seawater dwarfs anything seen in their samples.

The results come from a research cruise in June last year led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).

The initial findings were presented to the biennial Ocean Sciences Meeting.

“Just because we can measure radioactivity doesn’t mean it’s harmful,” WHOI’s Ken Buesseler told the gathering in Salt Lake City.

“There’s a pretty good news story in here – that the levels [of radioactivity] offshore are not of significance to human health in terms of exposure, or even if you were to eat the seafood offshore,” he added.

CONTINUE HERE>>>

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Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Earthquake, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tsunami, vegetables

April 4th: No radioactive emissions found in Shizuoka Prefecture

April 5, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

No radioactive emissions today!　All agricultural products in Shizuoka Prefecture are safe.

（Original Report）

【 Environmental Radioactivity Measurements Results inside Shizuoka Prefecture】
□Tap water radioactivity determination (nuclide analysis) results
【Sampling collection locality: Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Kita Ando】
Iodine 131: none
Cesium 137: none

□Radioactive fallout determination (nuclide analysis) results
【Sampling collection locality: Omaezaki City, Ikeshinden】
Sampling duration: April 3rd , 09:00~ April 4th, 09:00
【Observed radiation levels】
Iodine 131: none
Cesium 134: none
Cesium 137: none

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Earthquake, Shizuoka, Tsunami

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011): The suddenly increased importance of Shizuoka

March 24, 2011 dragonlife 12 Comments

A Chinese meal served at Cham exclusively made up of vegetables, meat and seafood from Shizuoka.

Some numbers make you think twice, and even many more times in the present situation created by the recent catastrophes in North East Japan:
Shizuoka Prefecture (4,000,000 souls) is the only Prefecture in Japan capable to survive exclusively on its own food for a period of 6 months….

But Shizuoka naturally will not keep its food to itself!
But in the advent of the need to feed the enormous metropolis that Tokyo is, Shizuoka suddenly finds itself on the front line to produce food of all kinds to nourish the hungry capital and the rest of Japan.

I should know as I work for Agrigraph which is constantly fielding phone calls and e-mails requesting help to obtain more products from our Prefecture.

Incredible efforts are witnessed to help the battered Prefectures in the North East with basic commodities such as blankets, tents, fuel, toiletries and canned food.
Tomorrow Agrigraph will spend a whole day collecting new towels, tea bags (for hot drinks) and rice inside the Rousaikaikan, a hall that can welcome 300 people.

Shizuoka-grown organic vegetables served at Uzu.

Another worrying problem has surfaced when 4 food-producing Prefectures in the North did not pass the country’s strict radioactive limits (far too strict in my own view). Apart of the dire fact that a lot of people have lost their life earnings, Tokyo and the rest of Japan have to look elsewhere for food.
Shizuoka, being one of the rare Prefectures which can grow food all year, is already feeling the pressure for more produce.

At Agrigraph we are already helping with recruiting young and not so young farmers from the devastated North East to come and help Shizuoka farmers to satisfy the demand. This will allow farmers from the north east to earn money at a work they know for the help of their families back home.
We have already suggested to Governor Kawakatsu to accelerate the recruitment and to help exploit the 12,000 ha of good but unused farmland in our Prefecture.

Shizuoka organic vegetables served at Tetsuya Sugimoto

When one realizes that Shizuoka is not only celebrated for its vegetables and fruit, but also for its incredible seafood and more recently for its high-quality meat, the pressure will be nearly overwhelming to deliver to Tokyo instead of locally…
But the Japanese are wise. I’m sure they will find a way.
They deserve it!

Until then, let’s help them!

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Earthquake, Miyagi Prefecture, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Tsunami, Yaizu City

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011): Food collected by Mark & Kunie Thornton have reached Miyagi Prefecture!

March 23, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Mark & Kunie/邦恵 Thornton with the fishermen from Yaizu City who volunteered to carry the food to Miyagi Prefecture!

Mark and Kunie packed their car with the 12 boxes full of food before driving all the way across the Prefecture to the harbor of Yaizu City!

The tuna fishing boat that transported mark and Kunie’s donations among all the help from Shizuoka Prefecture!

The name of the boat to remember: Wakaba Maru No 5 Yaizu!
“Wakaba” is the actual name of the boat. “Maru” means “round” and “boat”. Yaizu is the calling port.

Everyday heroes brave the sea and elements (and others) to bring help!

In spite of all the hardships there are thousands (and more) people deeply aware of what’s needed in times of crisis.
It is those “little gestures” that make this world a little easier to live in!

Mark, Kunie, gals and lads and all the fishermen that braved the elements, a profound thanks to all and from all once again!

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Earthquake, Miyagi Prefecture, Tsunami

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011): Food collected by Mark & Kunie Thornton on its way to Miyagi Prefecture!

March 22, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Mark & Kunie/邦恵 Thornton!

Message from Mark and Kunie:

Dear All,

It was great to meet you all yesterday! In the end we had more than 40 people donate items, and filled 12 boxes. So we think it was a big success!

We took all the goods to Yaizu today, and went to see the ship that will take them. So looks like everything will get to the people that need it.

Mark, Kunie, gals and lads, a profound thanks to all and from all once again!

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Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011): Mark & Kunie Thornton Collecting Food In Numazu City!

March 20, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Mark & Kunie/邦恵 Thornton!

Baird Brewery Fishmarket Taproom

It all started with an earthquake happening before a wedding ceremony!
Mark (from York, England) and Kunie (from Shizuoka Prefecture) were supposed to celebrate their long due wedding ceremony on Sunday march 20th when all had to be postponed after the terrible earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the north east of Japan.

Numazu City Fishing Harbor

Mark’s family just couldn’t come, and he and his gentle wife were left with an empty date.
But it takes more to rock those two off their feet.
If they couldn’t celebrate their wedding yet, they could make this momentous day a very useful one.

Baird Beer!

There is a great place in Numazu City called the Fishmarket Taproom where Bryan Baird brews his beers (he even had one ready for Mark and Kunie’s wedding party!) under the vaunted name of Baird Beer, which has recently been rewarded with international rewards.

Baird Beer’s labels!

Now Kunie has relatives (a cousin among them) in Yaizu City.
Yaizu City (with Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City) is one of the main tuna fishing harbors in Japan, a calling port for all tuna fishing boats including those from Miyagi Prefecture, the most devastated area in the recent earthquake.

Our heroes and Taproom’s staff!

Fishing boats are already busy collecting food and other necessities for Miyagi Prefecture. Mark and Kunie thought they could add a little contribution of their own to turn that fated Sunday into a day to remember for a useful and much needed purpose.

With the help of the staff, including Chris Madera, they thought up a simple project:
Call all friends on Facebook and ask them to bring canned and tinned food (and others) directly to the Taproom from 12:00 on Sunday 20th. A great idea in its simplicity as canned food can last almost indefinitely and be warmed up for hot meals!

They announced other efforts already on the way!

Yes, charity does cost money, even through the Red Cross, but everyone donated without a fuss and socialized for a very long drink.

And the donations started coming!

View of the Taproom

Donators from all countries busy ordering!

Half the donators were Japanese.
Talk of international cooperation!

It soon got crowded and we were still early in the afternoon.

And donations kept piling up!

What can make you happier than providing a little help?

A well-done job needs a toast!

Mark, Kunie, gals and lads, a profound thanks from all!

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

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Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011): Making the Most of Cancelled Events!

March 19, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Solliciting Celebrities’ appeal!

Many events in Shizuoka have been cancelled as respect for the victims of the catastrophic earthquake which jolted Japan on March 11th.
This week-end should have seen two days of Shizuoka Flower Fest.

This Saturday and Sunday, the SBS/Shizuoka Broadcasting Services Radio has decided to appeal to everyone for donations from 10:00 to 17:00 to help the victims of the East Japan Earthquake as it has been officially named.

The City had already erected numerous tents and booths in Gofuku Street and Aoba Park in Shizuoka City and left them standing for the appeal.

SBS TV and Radio appealing for donations.

The Shizuoka Spring Festival, the biggest event of its kind in Shizuoka City, due to occur on April 1st~3rd has been cancelled and money donations will be called for again on a big scale.

“Charity Booth”

Unfortunately once again “politicians” were not up to the task (it seems to be, but for some rare exception a global disease…).
Instead of postponing the campaign, the candidates for the Mayor election due to occur in a few weeks decided to proceed spending no less than 18,000,000 yen of official subsidies (txpayers’ money): 180,000 Euros or 280,000 US $!
Shame on them!
They ought to look up to Governor Kawakatsu…

Selling goods for money donations.

More booths with disaster photos and official maony collection.

Let’s forget these people who call themselves the servitors of people and do what we can!

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Earthquake, Japan, Shizuoka, Tsunami

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011):Collecting Money at Beer No Yokota Bar!

March 19, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

–Service: very friendly
–Facilities: very clean
–Non-smoking!
–Strong points: The beer!

Shizuoka People know what it is like to suffer from earthquakes and other seisms and they do take it with a bit of fatality and a pinch of wisdom.
But they certainly don’t forget their compatriots in need in other regions of Japan.
All kinds of spontaneous money collections are occuring, small or big.

One of them has been going on since the very beginning at Yokota No Beer Bar!

No frills, no fanfare, just a cut whisky box with a hand-written sign appealing for charity!
Anyone can have a look at the money inside.
No worry, nobody will steal it!
The money will go regularly to the Red Cross.
That’s all!

Wisdom, fortitude, concern? Take your pick!

Beer No Yokota
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Gofuku-Cho, 2-5-22, Social Kadode bldg 2F (behind the City Hall)
Tel.: 054-255-3683
Opening hours: 17:00~24:00 (15:00~24:00 on Saturdays)
Closed on Thursdays
HOMEPAGE

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Earthquake, Japan, Shizuoka, Tsunami

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011) Panic-buying abating in Shizuoka

March 19, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

(Cheap brand) bread gone…

The past week has been marked by some panic-buying, especially in Tokyo, but here in Shizuokka people are slowly becoming more reasonable in spite of the fears provoked mainly by foreign media and alarmist Embassies who haven’t realized that their apocalypse announcements have been closely watched by Japanese viewers.

No so many instant noodles gone yet.

Shizuoka is nonetheless the most earthquake-prone area in Japan, but its citizens are gradually accepting the situation with a lot of calm in spite of their private concerns.

Still more than half of the larger instant noodle meals left.

I paid a visit to the nearest Shizutetsu store, part of a local mega supermarket chain to have an idea for myself of the situation.

Half of the protein biscuits gone. They are French…

Interestingly enough only 3 types of merchandise were sought after:
Toilet paper, Fresh bread and instant noodles.

Breads and cakes almost gone…

I understand the buying of toilet paper and instant noodles, but fresh bread? How long can you keep it?

Plenty of juice, milk and yoghurt left.

No panic for fruit and vegetables!

Maybe bananas are going faster…

Stacke of meat and fish.

I hope that my friends abroad will understand that the Japanese are markedly wiser in the event of a major catastrophe!

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Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

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Earthquake Japan Shizuoka Tsunami