National & Business
New Japan energy policy officially shifts away from nuclear power
Japan’s revised energy policy is moving forward. On Friday, Japanese government released an interim report that vows to reduce reliance on atomic energy, officially shifting its energy policy away from nuclear power. Prime Minister Naoto Kan has previously pronounced that the country should reduce its dependence on nuclear energy and… Read More
Panasonic to build eco-conscious smart town in Japan by 2014
Panasonic is planning to develop a comprehensive eco-conscious ‘smart town’ in Fujisawa City in Japan by 2014. Read More
Japan plans solar panels on all new buildings by 2030
If the 20th century saw a nuclear renaissance, will the 21st century become the golden age for alternative sources of energy? Recent developments in Japan all point in this direction. The enormous scale of the March 11 triple disaster — a powerful earthquake, a tsunami and a destroyed nuclear power… Read More
Japan’s Prime Minister will give up his salary
Japan’s embattled Prime Minister Naoto Kan said on Tuesday he will give up his salary until the nuclear crisis in the country is over. Captain Kan’s surprising announcement comes just days after he requested last week that all reactors at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant be shut down. Read More
Japan to halt reactors at Hamaoka nuclear power plant
Opponents of nuclear energy received good news this weekend as Chubu Electric Power Co. officials announced plans to halt all reactors at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant. Considered by some scientists as the most dangerous power plant in the country (some say even in the world), the structure is… Read More
A new magnitude 7.4 earthquake shakes Japan
As if it wasn’t enough already, last night at 10:34 PM local time a new strong aftershock of magnitude 7.4 hit northern Japan, centered near the coast of Miyagi prefecture. A tsunami warning was issued immediately but was lifted about an hour later. Several cities in the area lost electricity.… Read More
Current levels of radioactivity in Japan
Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Science publishes daily measurements of radioactivity across the country. Levels of national radioactivity by region can see seen here: http://atmc.jp/ (without the www). There’s a language translation setting near the top of the page. By clicking on each graph you can see more… Read More
Is the media more out of control than the nuclear power plant in Fukushima?
Today is one week and two days after the deadly earthquake and tsunami devastated northern Japan. The search for survivors has already turned into a search for bodies. What is happening are enormous personal tragedies. Everyone who survived has their own story to tell. According to the reports from the… Read More
Earthquake 8.9
March 13, 2011 – Japan Meteorological Agency says there is a 70% likelihood of a strong quake in the next three days. This prediction is based on increased tectonic activity. As you probably already know, today a powerful earthquake struck northern Japan about 4 hours ago, at about 2:45 pm… Read More
Record 9.44 million visitors entered Japan in 2010
Robotized toilets, talking vending machines and restaurants without chairs* are just some of the wonders that a tourist will encounter upon landing on the island of the samurai. According to the official statistics by the Japanese immigration bureau, a record of 9.44 million foreigners visited Japan in 2010, making this… Read More
