Latest news with #GreatEastJapanEarthquake
Japan Forward
3 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Forward
Lesson from China's Seafood Ban: Diversify Trade Markets
このページを 日本語 で読む China's May 30 move to end its unjust embargo on Japanese seafood exports was only natural. After all, in September 2024, it had already promised to steadily revive Japanese seafood imports. Eight months later, the two sides have just reached an agreement on initiating the process to lift the import ban. However, rather than taking that promise at face value, we need to pay close attention to the Chinese government's tardiness and inadequacy of response. China imposed a blanket ban on all Japanese seafood imports following the release of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. On that basis, the agreement represents a key step for Japan's fishing industry, which has been battered by China's ban. China was a major export market for Japanese scallops and sea cucumbers before the ban. Hopes that exports would soon resume are therefore growing. However, has China's stance toward Japan really changed? The resumption of imports will apply to 37 prefectures. But that list does not include Fukushima, Ibaraki, and eight other prefectures where China had imposed restrictions on imports soon after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear disaster. Also, registration procedures for Japanese export businesses are just beginning on the Chinese side. Therefore, it will likely be several months before actual exports to China can resume. Moreover, since China often delays customs procedures for political reasons, caution is required. A cabinet meeting aimed at expanding exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and other food was held at the Prime Minister's Office on May 30. The Shigeru Ishiba administration should take a proactive stance to ensure that China swiftly and steadily honors its promises. It must continue to press for the immediate abolition of the restrictions on exports from the remaining 10 prefectures. China requires inspections for radioactive substances and certificates of origin for all products it imports from Japan. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Japan had committed to meeting China's regulatory and food safety standards and the criteria of Chinese supervisory authorities. Nevertheless, China's claim that the treated water is "radioactive contaminated water" is a false accusation to begin with. It is merely intended to deceive the public with absolutely no scientific basis. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other organizations have vouched for the safety of releasing the ALPS treated water. Chinese fishing vessels also continued to fish in Japan's coastal waters. It is perfectly clear that Beijing's argument that the embargo is justified due to "public anxiety" is hollow. For a decade after the Fukushima Daiichi accident, fishermen in the region suffered restrictions on import of their products. China may be eager to present the image of a conciliatory attitude toward Japan. Nevertheless, that is merely to counter pressure from the Trump administration. Moreover, even if China takes baby steps towards reconciling with Japan, we must remain vigilant. After all, no progress has been made on issues such as the detention of Japanese nationals in China and intrusions by Chinese vessels into Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands. Japan began to explore new export destinations for its marine products after China imposed its trade embargo. Even if exports resume, the political risks related to China will not decrease. The seafood industry should continue and intensify its efforts to diversify its export markets. Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
Metropolis Japan
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
Will There Be a Giant Natural Disaster in Japan This July?
Image is for illustration purposes only. Travelers from across Asia are canceling trips to Japan after a comic book by manga-profit Ryo Tatsuki warned of a natural disaster in July 2025. Tatsuki predicts a massive tsunami will strike in early July—and her track record has people spooked. She previously 'predicted' both the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and the outbreak of a pandemic in April 2020, years before either occurred. In 2021, manga artist Ryo Tatsuki had a disturbing dream. She watched from above as the ocean floor between Japan and the Philippines cracked open and rose to the surface, sending massive waves to Japan. She says she saw text flash across a black screen, movie-style. 'The real catastrophe will come on July 5, 2025.' Tatsuki's cult-favorite comic series, The Future I Saw was published in 1999, chronicling her prophetic dreams. Some of her predictions had already occurred at the time of publishing, like the death of Freddie Mercury and the 1995 Kobe Earthquake. However, the manga truly built a following after she accurately predicted the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Her fame surged again in 2020 when fans noticed that the manga had also included a reference to a global pandemic that would begin in April 2020. Cover of The Future I Saw by Ryo Tatsuki (1999 version) The cover reads: 'Great disaster in March 2011' (published 1999) With each event that seemed to line up with her dreams, her reputation grew. Social media creators and news outlets began referring to her as 'Japan's Baba Vanga,' likening her to the Bulgarian mystic known for her apocalyptic predictions. The comic was also recently re-released as The Future I Saw: The Complete Version . The edition has already sold over 700,000 copies in Japan alone. It compiles her original dreams alongside her most chilling one yet: her vision of a giant tsunami hitting Japan in July 2025. The implication is clear: she was right before, so what if she's right again? View this post on Instagram A post shared by STEVEN W. (@allstarsteven) And while it's easy to laugh it off, these kinds of stories strike a chord. Earthquakes in Japan aren't hypothetical. Everyone here has a memory of a big one. Everyone has a go-bag packed. So when a manga taps into that fear, it doesn't take much for it to go viral. Travel agencies across Asia are reporting a surprising drop in bookings to Japan, and they're pointing fingers at the comic. The steepest drops are coming from Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea—the places where the prediction seems to have caught the most attention. According to The Guardian, citing Bloomberg Intelligence and ForwardKeys data, average bookings from Hong Kong are down 50% compared to last year. And for late June to early July, right when the so-called disaster is supposed to hit, bookings have fallen by as much as 83%. Meanwhile, Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines are cutting down on their Japan-bound flights. Of course, Japan's Meteorological Agency has made it clear: there's no scientific way to predict an earthquake this far in advance. In fact, there's still no reliable method to predict one, even a few minutes before it strikes. Tatsuya Honjo, head of the Association for Skeptical Investigation of the Supernatural (ASIOS), has publicly pushed back on Tatsuki's reputation as a seer. He points out that many of her earlier predictions never came true—and that her correct ones could just be lucky guesses. The cover of her first manga even listed dates like July 2, 1994 and November 26, 1995, which passed without incident. Even Tatsuki herself admits to Bunshun Online in an interview, 'To be honest, I can't say for sure what this dream really meant. I've always been the type who wants to understand the cause behind things, so I don't feel entirely convinced myself. That said, after what happened with the Great East Japan Earthquake, I also can't say with 100% certainty that something won't happen.' As Honjo comments, when a prediction appears to align with a real event—like March 11, 2011—people remember that one, not the duds. You could argue this story went viral because it hit a generation raised on earthquakes, media sensationalism and social media anxiety. This image is for illustration purposes only. But also, it's just a good story. It has suspense, visuals and a message of redemption—because in her dreams, the disaster isn't the end. According to Tatsuki, the world changes after July 2025. In a dream she had on January 1, 2001, she saw a bright future where people cooperate and connect more deeply. An 'age of mind,' she calls it. If that sounds like new-age fluff, you're not wrong. But in an era when hope feels harder to come by, it's part of the appeal. Short answer: There's no scientific research to say that you should. Japan remains one of the safest countries in the world to visit, with a robust disaster-response system and some of the most earthquake-resistant architecture globally. Japan's natural disaster experts and scientists have warned of no particular event to watch out for in July. If you're planning a trip, at any time, the best thing you can always do is prepare well. We've put together a few guides to help. Start with Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness in Tokyo: Evacuation Tips and Access Guides. And if you're packing, don't miss our Emergency Evacuation Backpack List for a quick, practical checklist. For the ultimate learning experience, try an earthquake simulator at on of Tokyo's disaster prevention centers. Canceling your trip based on a dream from a manga artist? That's a personal choice. But it's not one yet backed by science. Still, stories like this remind us just how powerful fiction can be—not only to entertain but to influence behavior, reshape perception and create real-world consequences. Even in the age of data and digital alerts, it turns out we're still deeply superstitious creatures.
5 days ago
- Business
Japan, Kuwait Agree to Upgrade Relationship
News from Japan Politics May 29, 2025 21:58 (JST) Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Thursday agreed to elevate the relationship between Japan and Kuwait to a "comprehensive strategic partnership." They met at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, pledging to cooperate on stabilizing the crude oil market and promoting decarbonization efforts. Ishiba said that "the two countries have been friends who have helped each other through historical difficulties, such as the Gulf War and the (March 2011) Great East Japan Earthquake." He expressed appreciation for the stable crude oil supply from Kuwait. The crown price replied that his country has been working on stabilizing the international crude oil market. Earlier in the day, Ishiba held separate talks with his Tanzanian counterpart, Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa, confirming the strengthening of relations between their countries. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 days ago
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Residents in District of Japan's Quake-Hit Noto Area Learn Disaster Radio Knowhow; Volunteers Learning from Area in Miyagi Hit by 2011 Quake
The Yomiuri Shimbun Shin Nakayama, right, and other members of the Machino district in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, learn broadcasting techniques during a training session in Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture, on June 17. KANAZAWA — Members of a community affected by a major earthquake and heavy rains are working on opening a temporary disaster radio station in June that will provide information to the area in emergencies. The Machino district of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, suffered damage from the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake and heavy rainfall that hit the prefecture. Volunteers are being taught how to broadcast information by a radio station in Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture, an area affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Lessons from Miyagi A temporary disaster radio station is an FM station set up by local governments to provide information on disaster relief, such as water supplies and food distribution. The system was established after the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, with 28 municipalities opening such stations during the 2011 earthquake in the Tohoku region. The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry issues licenses to municipalities and decides the station's broadcast frequency. Supervision by a qualified individual with a second-class technical radio operator for on-the-ground services or higher is required, but qualified individuals from companies or volunteer organizations are permitted to help out. In mid-May, six Machino volunteer members visited Onagawa FM's radio room for their five-day training program to learn how to run a radio station. 'Wajima is just like Onagawa in that it is by the sea and is rich in nature. We want to rebuild it into a stylish town like Onagawa,' one of them said in a test broadcast via video streaming. After the earthquake in January 2024 and the heavy rains that followed in September, television signals and Internet connections in the Machino district were lost, leaving residents without access to information. Drawing lessons from these major disasters, a group of local volunteers called the Machino reconstruction project committee is preparing to launch a temporary disaster radio station with the cooperation of Wajima City. After test broadcasts were conducted in February, other residents who wanted to help the project came forward. One of the members, Shin Nakayama, 29, lost his older sister, then 31, who was swept away by mudslides during the heavy rains. He currently lives in temporary housing. 'My sister would've been listening to our radio,' Nakayama said about the reason to join the project. 'I want to deliver information to the community.' During his visit to Onagawa, Nakayama said he was able to share his feelings with people who also lost their loved ones in the 2011 earthquake. Enhancing readiness Onagawa FM's predecessor Onagawa Saigai FM served as a temporary disaster radio station until 2016, when its duties were taken over by a general incorporated association. It ceased broadcasting in 2022 and now supports the opening of similar radio stations nationwide. Former Onagawa Saigai radio host Machiko Abe, 42, was among the instructors teaching the Machino team in the training program. 'Rather than telling people about problems, communicate with residents to enhance disaster readiness,' Abe told the trainees. Yusuke Yamashita, 39, who represents the Machino committee, was taught about reporting and production skills. 'We will practice together while being aware that residents would be listening on the other side of the microphone,' Yamashita said.
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 days ago
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Solar Power Generation: Promote Consolidation of Businesses into Superior Operators
The government has begun to reorganize the huge crowd of solar power generation operators. It is important to consolidate these businesses into major operators that local residents can trust in terms of safety measures, and to steadily promote decarbonization. In 2012, after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the government launched a system to purchase electricity produced with renewable energy sources, including solar power, at high prices. Electricity generated by operators is purchased at fixed prices for 20 years from the start of generation, in principle. The initial price was as high as ¥40 per kilowatt-hour, four times the current price, which prompted many small-scale operators to enter the market. As a result, many operators in Japan have installed solar panels on areas about the size of a tennis court. The purchases at high prices will gradually come to an end from fiscal 2032 onward. There are concerns that this will lead to a string of unprofitable operators withdrawing from the market, leaving their equipment unattended. There have already been a number of cases of broken panels being abandoned in various parts of the country. It has been pointed out that solar power plants built in mountainous areas are at risk of causing landslides. Such a situation must be prevented. To deal with such cases, the government introduced a system in April to certify as 'qualified' large-scale operators that meet certain requirements — such as having a power generation capacity of 50,000 kilowatts or more — and give them preferential treatment in taking over the operations of other businesses. Under the new system, qualified operators are exempt from the briefing sessions with local governments that are required when taking over a business. Instead, they only have to announce the progress of the business on their own websites, among other things. In addition, the requirement that an engineer arrive within two hours in the event of equipment failure has also been relaxed. Based on the new system, Kyushu Railway Co. plans to team up with Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking and other entities to purchase small- and medium-scale solar power generation facilities in Kyushu. It is hoped that such moves will become more common. In its Strategic Energy Plan formulated this year, the government aims to increase the share of solar power generation in the power supply mix to 23%-29% in fiscal 2040 from 9.8% in fiscal 2023. However, the hurdles to achieving this goal are high, as the land suitable for solar power generation in Japan is decreasing year by year. It will be necessary to utilize suitable land without neglecting it. It is also vital for the government to strictly certify qualified operators. There is no end to the problems with local residents caused by the abandonment of solar panels. Major operators who take over a business also bear a heavy responsibility. They will be required to continue long-term, stable operations with constant efforts to establish relations of trust with local residents. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 28, 2025)
