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laurainlimbo at 04:14pm on 17/08/2005
laurainlimbo at 04:14pm on 17/08/2005I'm back from my trip up to visit friends in Saitama. I got back earlier than anticipated since Mrs. Yoshino was going to probably end up babysitting her 1 1/2 year old grandson today since he just might have chicken pox!
It was a really busy trip - even though I spent only two and a half days, I saw so many places and interesting things. I'll have a lot to report on here, but I need to consult all of the brochures and things that I gathered so that I can give accurate names for the towns and museums I went to. So, I'll be doing it little by little tonight and tomorrow... stay tuned
But first, I thought it a little peculiar that only one person in the states asked me about the earthquake that happened yesterday (and it wasn't even my mother!). Of course earthquakes happen pretty frequently in Japan these days, but this one was big!!
Apparently, either no one outside of Japan watches the international news, or everyone has a relatively good idea about Japanese geography, so they must have known that I would not have been in the hard-hit area. The earthquake hit an area of Japan called Sendai, which is quite a bit northeast of Tokyo on the coast. When the quake hit, Fujiko and I were in a little restaurant in Tokyo having lunch and we felt it very strongly (much more strongly than if I had been at home in Fuji). In Tokyo, the quake measured around 4.0 on the richter, but in the epicenter, Sendai, it was about 6.6 - and I heard that 67 people were injured. the quake was strong enough to destroy an indoor swimming pool, and an old house in Saitama prefecture (near where I was staying)! We were fine, but quite shaken up (literally) because the quake lasted over a minute and we were in a covered shopping area, so if it had been stronger, I don't know if we would have been in a safe place.
I'm wondering when the big quake is going to hit Shizuoka prefecture (where I live). A big one is predicted, but it could be anytime - and of course we live in the shadow of Mt. Fuji, as well as by the coast, so a big quake would mean disaster here!! can't wait!
It was a really busy trip - even though I spent only two and a half days, I saw so many places and interesting things. I'll have a lot to report on here, but I need to consult all of the brochures and things that I gathered so that I can give accurate names for the towns and museums I went to. So, I'll be doing it little by little tonight and tomorrow... stay tuned
But first, I thought it a little peculiar that only one person in the states asked me about the earthquake that happened yesterday (and it wasn't even my mother!). Of course earthquakes happen pretty frequently in Japan these days, but this one was big!!
Apparently, either no one outside of Japan watches the international news, or everyone has a relatively good idea about Japanese geography, so they must have known that I would not have been in the hard-hit area. The earthquake hit an area of Japan called Sendai, which is quite a bit northeast of Tokyo on the coast. When the quake hit, Fujiko and I were in a little restaurant in Tokyo having lunch and we felt it very strongly (much more strongly than if I had been at home in Fuji). In Tokyo, the quake measured around 4.0 on the richter, but in the epicenter, Sendai, it was about 6.6 - and I heard that 67 people were injured. the quake was strong enough to destroy an indoor swimming pool, and an old house in Saitama prefecture (near where I was staying)! We were fine, but quite shaken up (literally) because the quake lasted over a minute and we were in a covered shopping area, so if it had been stronger, I don't know if we would have been in a safe place.
I'm wondering when the big quake is going to hit Shizuoka prefecture (where I live). A big one is predicted, but it could be anytime - and of course we live in the shadow of Mt. Fuji, as well as by the coast, so a big quake would mean disaster here!! can't wait!
tired