| # | Author | Message |
11
| davewasbaloo
Sat 4/12/2008 6:53p | It was 48 degrees today with light rain. |
12
| Malin
Sun 4/13/2008 11:50a | I have to admit when visiting Japan the fear of eathquakes is constantly in the back of my mind. Especially with Tokyo long over due a big Earthquake. You would hope the city will be able to handle something like the 8.4 that hit the city in 1923 and killed 105,000 people. But until it actually happens how do you know how safe you really are!
I'm sure for many of you who live and work in the area this is a simple fact of life and most of you probarely get on with your daily lives without thinking about it. But for someone like me who lives in a part of the World where earthquakes are extremely rare, it can at times be rather a nervous feeling visiting a country that has 20% of the World's worst earthquakes. |
13
| SuperDry
Sun 4/13/2008 8:05p | I grew up in California, so earthquakes were just a fact of life. I first visited Japan just 2 months after the Kobe quake, and traveled right through the area, and saw the damage first-hand. It was quite impressive. Then within one day of arriving in Tokyo, there was the sarin gas attack on the subways and then we were woken up by the shaking of a minor earthquake. Life in the big city, I guess.
But it doesn't bother me. As I said, I grew up with earthquakes. I haven't compared the statistics side-by-side, but it would not surprise me that the likelihood of serious injury or death from an earthquake in Japan is far less than it is from either random violence or drunk drivers back home. |
14
| SuperDry
Thu 4/17/2008 4:14p | The weather turned out to be near perfect on Tuesday, so I guess that makes a marked difference from previous anniversaries/openings at TDR. In addition, no earthquakes, and fortunately Mothra didn't attack either. |
15
| Mr X
Thu 4/17/2008 5:57p | Unfortunately, it had changed to "super wet" yesterday and today.
Hope you're enjoying yourself anyway SD! |
16
| barboy
Fri 4/18/2008 7:48p | Keep in mind that if(more like when) a "biggie" hits the Tokyo area at least the architecture, compared to all other major cities in the world, is relatively new and built with quakes in mind. The city, basically, is only 50-60 years old due to fire bombs of the '40's. |
17
| Mr X
Fri 4/18/2008 8:34p | True, but look at what happened at Kobe.
Those structures were all considered Earthquake safe, but what happened was that instead of the usual side to side motion of quakes, this one went UP and DOWN...yikes.
They have, I believe, changed the standards since that one though (hopefully). But in any case a big enough earthquake will be devastating depending on the timing. Kobe was fortunately very early before the trains started running.
A quake in Tokyo daytime, strong enough to crack the tracks like it did in Kobe? I don't even wanna THINK about it. |
18
| barboy
Sat 4/19/2008 8:59p | "this one went UP and DOWN...yikes."
You can count me out too.
Any earth pieces moving like giant engine pistons at a very slow rpm rate would freak me out to my core.
|
19
| Malin
Sun 4/20/2008 5:13a | The problem with Tokyo in its current state, is that until a large Earthquake hits you really have no idea whats going to happen. Concerns about the streets being gridlocked with workers unable to use the trains, and having to walk home. The giant skyscappers around areas of Shinjuku, how safe would theme buildings be if a serious quake were to hit and started to shake up and down. Than there are those who believe the fault which lies under Tokyo is actually a lot closer to the surface than originally believed. |
20
| Malin
Sun 4/20/2008 5:30a | I've found this great YouTube clip from a Japanese TV Drama which shows you just how much of a impact a major earthquake in Tokyo could cause. Of course this being TV things are made out to appear more dramatic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...CyjwD4-I
By the way I hope the talk of Earthquake's does not put anyone off visiting, as these kind of events can happen anywhere. But I don't think it hurts to discuss the subject seeing that an Earthquake in the 7 is expected to hit Tokyo at anytime now. |
