Panel stresses evacuation from tsunami / Moves focus from physical barriers (by Yomiuri Shimbun)

Prof. Yoshiaki Kawata of Kansai University at a meeting of an expert panel on tsunami countermeasures on Sunday

An expert panel on tsunami countermeasures has called for the establishment of comprehensive evacuation plans in anticipation of massive tsunami, representing a major shift from the past emphasis on dikes and other protective structures.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110627004310.htm

Exclusive use of LED lights would shave 9 percent off Japan's energy consumption: researchers (by Mainichi Shimbun)

The LED light fixtures to be installed on and inside the Tokyo Sky Tree are pictured with the Sky Tree's mascot Sorakara-chan in Tokyo's Koto Ward on June 15. (Mainichi)


If all the fluorescent and incandescent lights used in Japan were replaced by energy-saving light-emitting diode (LED) lights, the annual domestic power consumption would be slashed by 9 percent, the Institute of Energy Economics (IEE) has announced.
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110627p2a00m0na010000c.html

TEPCO failed to report possible hydrogen explosion (by Asahi Shimbun)

Smoke rises from the No. 3 reactor at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant which exploded in March. (Asahi Shimbun)


Tokyo Electric Power Co. knew there could be an explosion at the No. 3 reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant the day before it happened, but didn't report the possibility to authorities.




http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201106250160.html

Fund to track Fukushima health (by Japan Times)

(Kyodo)
The government plans to establish a ¥103 billion fund to track the health of all Fukushima Prefecture residents for 30 years, because of radiation leaking from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, government sources said Thursday.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110624a3.html

Quake-rebuilding budget delayed to autumn as Diet squabbles (by Asahi Shimbun)

Piles of rubble remain untouched more than three months after the March 11 earthquake in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)


Rebuilding quake-damaged regions in northeastern Japan appears certain to be delayed further as an extra budget for full-fledged post-quake reconstruction is not likely to be submitted to the Diet until September or later.
http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201106230201.html

The view from the ship has changed completely after the disaster

 (by Mr. Toshio Sato, 62, Captain of Yachiyo Taxi,  Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecure)

I am running a water taxi business for four years at the port of Shiogama. It is a 13 passenger boat and travels to the Urato Islands and Matsushima Island. The public liner doesn’t run often, so I get quite many customers. I rush to the island 24/7 to transport patients who need treatment at the main land.

I lost one of my ships by the tsunami; it was knocked down side way and totaled. This one that I am running now got big hole on the bottom when it was washed ashore, but I had it repaired somehow and I was able to resume my water taxi business from May 1.

The view from the ship has changed completely after the disaster, and I wish they will restore the previous scenery as soon as possible. (Photo taken by Mr. Yasuo Ishii)

Nikkan Sports,  June 6, 2011

http://photos.nikkansports.com/general/genki/archives/20110606_17055.html

Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano

Some power firm shareholders wary of nuclear energy (by Asahi Shimbun)

Kansai Electric Power Co. shareholders walk past nuclear power protesters as they enter a stockholders meeting in Osaka on June 29, 2010. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)




Electric power companies will face stronger doubts among shareholders about the feasibility of continuing with nuclear energy at annual meetings scheduled for later this month.


http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201106180290.html