Earthquake - 6 months later

Well, it has been 6 months since the massive earthquake hit the east coast of Honshu - a useful point to reflect. Looking back, I am still more than happy with the decision for Clara and I to relocate for a week in Hong Kong. Radiation is still spewing from the nuclear plant up in Fukushima and I am therefore hoping my biggest mistake will not prove to be returning so quickly.

A small section of Japanese society has actually lambasted and mocked many foreigners (referred to as gaijin in Japan) for pulling out to more stable climes. For a time, we were rechristened byejin or flyjin. I am not criticising anyone for steadfastly staying put in Japan, but I think the criticism aimed at those who left is a bit rich. The Japanese have proved to be one of the most discerning and sensitive nationalities when it comes to world travel. Again, that's fine by me. Just don't criticise others for doing their best to preserve the safety of themselves and their family members, especially in a land where the Tokyo mayor advocates imprisoning Tokyo expats if a major disaster were to strike.

The cleanup in northern Japan seems to be progressing in fits and starts. Some areas look like they are ready for reconstruction whilst others are still covered in mounds of debris. Perhaps a bigger challenge will be persuading people to move back.... Since the problems with the nuclear power stations, there has been a big public backlash against the use of atomic energy. Let's just see how long this backlash lasts.....people forget very quickly.

There are still regular aftershocks, but they appear to be lessening in their intensity. People are slowly returning to their normal lives with the ever-present tension felt in the months immediately after the earthquake and tsunami decreasing steadily. In the back of my mind though, there is still the threat of the next big quake forecast to strike Tokyo. Some seismologists state that the risk has increased since the quake on March 11th, as discussed in the following link.

Fingers crossed for an extended period of stability.