Of course, the big new from Japan this week was the earthquake on Saturday evening. We went to bed early to try to get some sleep before getting up again to watch Wales v Scotland rugby. We were fast asleep and were woken by the bed shaking and the building swaying. It was a bit scary!

Thank you to all who sent messages asking if we were ok. We had no damage … not even anything falling off shelves.

The earthquake had an intensity of 7.3 in Fukushima and is now seen as an aftershock of the massive earthquake very nearly 10 years ago. Who knew that aftershocks occur so long afterwards?! Fortunately there were no fatalities this time – nor a tsunami or nuclear disaster as there was in 2011. The intensity was 4 in Tokyo so the city avoided any damage.

There are various apps (all in Japanese!) giving a warning of earthquakes, but looking at various media platforms, it seems that these didn’t go off. We haven’t downloaded one … but don’t take our phones into the bedroom anyway.

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There are strict regulations with regard to anti-seismic performance levels in buildings which are regularly reviewed and altered. The most obvious regulation – for both earthquakes and fires – is the separation of the buildings.

Google Translate

This provides me with much humour and frustration on a daily basis. Yesterday we had workmen in the apartment to fix the sliding door between the kitchen and the lounge. I attempted using the conversation tool & I found I was asking the poor guys ‘instatool twisted’ and ‘is the toy vault’ …. but their understanding when I offered a cup of coffee was superb!

Hot legs

When I travel by train I really dislike the heat belting out onto my legs from the under seat heaters. I thought at first that it must be to counteract the open widows in the carriages but it is probably about the Japanese liking heated seats (think toilets) and hot legs ..

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This is a kotasu … a traditional way of keeping warm. See what I mean about hot legs!

Bicycles

I return to bicycles again; I have already written about bicycle parking and bicycle on pavements. I must have a thing about them … probably because one is going to knock me down!

Bicycles with child seats on front and back are a common way to transport children to and from school. And some front seats transform to shopping baskets so that Mum, or maybe Dad, can do some shopping on the way home. The other day I saw a mother cope with 3 children … the elder two took turns to ride on the back seat and run alongside.

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Cyclists are allowed to push their bicycles over Rainbow Bridge, but not to ride them. These trolleys are fixed to the back wheel –

Random Photos

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