Latest news with #Tokara
NHK
a day ago
- Climate
- NHK
Over 400 tremors detected around island chain in southwestern Japan
More than 400 tremors registering an intensity of 1 or higher on the Japanese seismic scale of zero to 7 have been observed since Saturday in the seas around the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Japan's Meteorological Agency is calling on residents in the area to stay on the alert for possible strong tremors as a series of recent tremors have occurred at a more frequent pace than previous cases. The agency says seismic activity has heightened in the area around Kodakarajima Island in the Tokara island chain since Saturday morning. Noticeable tremors have continued in Toshima Village, which consists of Kodakarajima and other islands. As of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, a total of 432 tremors registering an intensity of 1 or higher had been recorded. Of those, six quakes registered an intensity of 4, 21 had an intensity of 3, 114 were with an intensity of 2 and 291 registered an intensity of 1. Among them, the largest was a magnitude 5.1 quake that struck Akusekijima Island in Toshima Village shortly after 5 p.m. on Sunday, registering an intensity of 4. Tremors with intensities of 1 or 2 were also observed on several islands nearby, including Amami Oshima Island. No tsunami was observed. By day, the number of tremors registering an intensity of 1 or higher was 28 on Saturday, 119 on Sunday, 175 on Monday, 59 on Tuesday and 51 up to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. In the past, areas around Kodakarajima Island have experienced a large number of tremors in a short period. In September 2023, 346 tremors with an intensity of 1 or higher were recorded within 15 days, while in December 2021 the number was 308 within 26 days. Agency officials are urging people to beware of possible strong tremors for some time, saying there have been cases in which seismic activity continued for several dozen days.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Hundreds of earthquakes shake Japan's remote Tokara Islands, agency warns of stronger tremors ahead
TOKYO, June 26 — A remote island chain in southern Japan has been rattled by more than 470 earthquakes since Saturday, the national weather agency said on Thursday, calling for residents to stay alert. No major damage has been reported from the series of quakes with a strength of at least one — slightly perceptible to people seated quietly indoors — on Japan's seven-point seismic intensity scale. As of Thursday morning, 474 such earthquakes had been observed around the Tokara island chain, south of Kyushu, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. 'Seismic activity has increased. As this region has experienced extended periods of earthquake activity in the past, please be vigilant against earthquakes that cause strong shaking,' it said in a statement. The largest tremors recorded since Saturday were two magnitude-5.1 quakes, one on Sunday and one on Tuesday. They had a seismic intensity of four on the Japanese scale — described as an earthquake in which 'most people are startled', dishes rattle and 'hanging objects such as lamps swing significantly'. A similar period of seismic activity in the Tokara area was seen in September 2023, when 346 earthquakes were recorded within 15 days, according to public broadcaster NHK. Seven of the 12 remote Tokara Islands are inhabited, with around 700 residents in total. The islands, some of which have active volcanoes, are reached by a ferry that runs twice weekly in good weather. 'An earthquake of up to magnitude-6 strength could take place, so please be vigilant,' Hisayoshi Yokose, a marine volcanology specialist and associate professor at Kumamoto University, told NHK. Japan is one of the world's most seismically active countries, sitting on top of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific 'Ring of Fire'. The archipelago, home to around 125 million people, experiences around 1,500 jolts every year and accounts for around 18 percent of the world's earthquakes. The vast majority are mild, although the damage they cause varies according to their location and the depth below the Earth's surface at which they strike. On New Year's Day 2024, more than 400 people died after a massive earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula in central Japan, including 'quake-linked' deaths as well as those killed directly in the disaster. The January 1 quake and its aftershocks toppled buildings, caused fires and knocked out infrastructure at a time when families were celebrating the new year. — AFP
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Al Arabiya
Hundreds of earthquake rattle Japanese island chain
A remote island chain in southern Japan has been rattled by more than 470 earthquakes since Saturday, the national weather agency said on Thursday, calling for residents to stay alert. No major damage has been reported from the series of quakes with a strength of at least one -- slightly perceptible to people seated quietly indoors -- on Japan's seven-point seismic intensity scale. As of Thursday morning, 474 such earthquakes had been observed around the Tokara island chain, south of Kyushu, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. 'Seismic activity has increased. As this region has experienced extended periods of earthquake activity in the past, please be vigilant against earthquakes that cause strong shaking,' it said in a statement. The largest tremors recorded since Saturday were two magnitude-5.1 quakes, one on Sunday and one on Tuesday. They had a seismic intensity of four on the Japanese scale -- described as an earthquake in which 'most people are startled', dishes rattle and 'hanging objects such as lamps swing significantly.' A similar period of seismic activity in the Tokara area was seen in September 2023, when 346 earthquakes were recorded within 15 days, according to public broadcaster NHK. Seven of the 12 remote Tokara Islands are inhabited, with around 700 residents in total. The islands, some of which have active volcanoes, are reached by a ferry that runs twice weekly in good weather. 'An earthquake of up to magnitude-6 strength could take place, so please be vigilant,' Hisayoshi Yokose, a marine volcanology specialist and associate professor at Kumamoto University, told NHK. Japan is one of the world's most seismically active countries, sitting on top of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific 'Ring of Fire.' The archipelago, home to around 125 million people, experiences around 1,500 jolts every year and accounts for around 18 percent of the world's earthquakes. The vast majority are mild, although the damage they cause varies according to their location and the depth below the Earth's surface at which they strike. On New Year's Day 2024, more than 400 people died after a massive earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula in central Japan, including 'quake-linked' deaths as well as those killed directly in the disaster. The January 1 quake and its aftershocks toppled buildings, caused fires and knocked out infrastructure at a time when families were celebrating the new year.
Daily Maverick
12-05-2025
- Daily Maverick
Lekker Brekker Monday: Olive oil-poached eggs with lavender and garlic
A bounty of high-quality extra virgin olive oil has come my way, thanks to a round-figure birthday and the generosity of friends. It has me seeking to use it in ways that honour the best this product can be. So why not breakfast… One of the advantages of being known to be a 'foodie', though that's not a term I'm very fond of, is that people tend to know what you do for a living. And when they're thinking, 'What shall we get Tones for his birthday?', their thoughts immediately go to food. Let me be clear: I cannot afford most of the fancy olive oils that I'd prefer to use, so I, like most of you out there, tend to buy (relatively) cheap. Yes, of course there's no such thing as cheap olive oil, but you know what I mean. As if the four bottles of fine extra virgin olive oil that arrived on my birthday were not enough, I was also sent product by Tokara in Stellenbosch (and their exquisite aged balsamic vinegar), and award-winning versions by no less than De Rustica. De Rustica is near De Rust, which is 35km from Oudshoorn just before the road carries you through Meiringspoort towards Klaarstroom and Prince Albert, unless you turn right towards Willowmore and on to Abeerdeen, Graaff-Reinet and ultimately Cradock. That's our route home when going via Route 62. When I chatted by phone to Rob Still, who owns De Rustica, last week, he told me he was sending me some of his olive oil. Their De Rustica Estate Collection Coratina had just been placed second overall in the annual Evooleum competition, the only estate outside of Italy and Spain to be ushered into the top 10. That was the 2024 edition of Coratina. He sent me the 2025 edition which he says he believes is even better. Now, I don't know if he'd be pleased or horrified that I have poached eggs in it. But if I just poured some over a salad it would seem like a missed opportunity to do something a little more profound with it, given its pedigree. Or just drink it… And I did have a taste of it, pure and raw. The tasting notes on De Rustica's website say you're looking for green almond, artichoke and 'peppery spice' when tasting. With this in mind, I'm planning a pasta dish this week using another birthday gift: a jar of artichokes with peppers, garlic and herbs. I'll know more about that recipe once I've thought it through, so watch this space. The eggs will not look anything like water-poached eggs, more like fried eggs in appearance. I fried some slices of tomato to go alongside the eggs. Tony's olive oil-poached eggs with fried tomato on the side (Serves 2) Ingredients 4 eggs ½ a cup of the best extra virgin olive oil that suits your budget (or enough to almost cover the eggs, leaving the yolks exposed) 2 lavender sprigs 2 garlic cloves, peeled and slightly crushed Salt to taste 1 medium tomato Butter for frying the tomato Method While the eggs are poaching, slice a tomato and fry the slices lightly in a little butter. If you're serving anything else with these oil-poached eggs – bacon, toast, whatever – get those ready before or while you poach the eggs. This recipe concerns only the poached eggs. Pick two lavender sprigs and peel two garlic cloves. Press the cloves down with the flat side of a knife, but not too hard; just enough for the juices to be released. Pour the olive oil into a nonstick pan (preferably a medium-sized one, not overly large) and add the garlic cloves and lavender sprigs. Put the heat on medium and let the olive oil heat up. It should not be very hot. There will be a gentle bubbling in the pan, around the eggs, but if it is brisk, turn the heat down. Leave the eggs undisturbed until the whites are set. Spoon some oil over the yolks, just to set the film of albumen above the yellow. Lift the eggs onto plates, salt lightly, add the tomato slices, and garnish with lavender sprigs. DM Tony Jackman is twice winner of the Galliova Food Writer of the year award, in 2021 and 2023
Daily Maverick
25-04-2025
- General
- Daily Maverick
AirFryday: Chicken and veg bake in your air fryer
Chicken and vegetable bakes are always popular, though I have always cooked them in the ordinary old gas oven. I had a go at doing one in an air fryer this week and, while the technique is a little different, the end result was very satisfying. Two things have to be considered when cooking a chicken and vegetable bake in an air fryer: the size of your machine (and of the dish you put in it, if using one) and how much liquid to use. The shape and size of your air fryer interior always dictate which of your oven dishes you can fit in it. And whatever can fit in that dish. But, depending on what kind of air fryer you have (I mean the design, not the brand), you might be able to ignore all your dishes and cook everything right in your air fryer. Both of mine have drawers that you can pull out, so that you can put ingredients directly into it, close it, set the temperature and time, and start cooking. I'm glad, now, that I didn't choose one that has a pull-down door, like a large conventional oven. Having said all that, chicken portions are the size they are, and vegetables will take up a certain amount of space, depending on their bulk. And, even when feeding only two of us in a fairly large (5.7-litre) air fryer, I was not able to cook everything in it all at once on this occasion. This didn't faze me at all. I selected my vegetables – potatoes, onion, tomatoes and peppers – and then chose my condiments. Excellent-quality extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar that was no less impressive, a hint of cayenne pepper and of course salt and black pepper. Somebody recently gave me a product called Fynbos Fire Foods Smotherings of Africa sea salt with smoked paprika, garlic and basil – that's a lot to remember – so I decided to use some of that too. It's an interesting spice mix with a nice texture and curious flavour profile (that's not a criticism, it means it's not dull), although rather scant on the salt content. So I added more salt. There were six chicken portions – four thighs and two drumsticks. Now, as for that liquid content when cooking in an air fryer. Like fat, it needs to be kept to a minimum, since an air fryer is not a vessel for boiling things in. You only need enough to do the work of keeping the vegetables moist, thereby preventing them from drying out, while adding the flavour the food needs. Anything more than a coating of the vegetables is probably too much. On the vegetable front, I assessed everything and decided that I would cook the potatoes first, then add onion, then tomatoes and finally peppers. Then I would remove everything so that I could cook the chicken portions on their own, in the same air fryer (with no need to clean it, which would result in loss of flavour already in the basket). I would cook the chicken to perfection, remove the portions, return the veg to the machine, put the chicken portions on top and finish it for five more minutes. The olive oil and balsamic vinegar I used were Tokara premium multi varietal extra virgin olive oil from Stellenbosch, and their premium balsamic vinegar. The olive oil is described as having a full fruit character, rounded with delicate herbaceous and spicy flavours. The balsamic vinegar is 'sweet and fruity with mild acidity'. All true in the tasting. And it all worked out swimmingly. Follow the recipe below step by step for a week-night family meal that made us very happy. Tony's air fryer chicken and vegetable bake (Serves 3) Ingredients 6 chicken thighs/drumsticks 4 medium potatoes 1 heaped tsp Fynbos Fire Foods Smotherings of Africa sea salt 1 medium onion, peeled and sliced into quarters 3 medium tomatoes, quartered 1 red pepper, sliced in julienne strips 1 yellow pepper, sliced in julienne strips 4 Tbsp Tokara premium multi varietal extra virgin olive oil 4 Tbsp Tokara premium balsamic vinegar Salt and black pepper to taste Method First, the potatoes: Peel them and slice into quarters. In a small bowl, mix 4 Tbsp Tokara olive oil with 1 heaped tsp Fynbos Fire Foods Smotherings of Africa sea salt with smoked paprika, garlic and basil. Add a little salt. Toss the potatoes in this. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C and cook for 20 minutes (but refer to the next paragraph please). Shake the basket now and then for even cooking. After 10 minutes of the above period, add the quartered onions after tossing them in the remaining spiced olive oil from the potatoes. Complete the next 10 minutes of this 20-minute cook. Add the julienne red and yellow pepper slivers, after tossing them in more extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt. Cook for 5 minutes at 180°C. Now add the quartered tomatoes, turn the temperature up to 200°C, and cook for 10 minutes. Shake the basket a few times. Remove everything to a side dish – it's time to cook the chicken. In a large bowl or bakkie, mix 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil with 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 heaped tsp garlic pasta (I used La Italiana), salt, black pepper, and 3 shakes of cayenne pepper. Baste chicken in this and air-fry for 25 minutes at 180°C, then turn it up to 200°C and cook for another 10 minutes. Turn the setting to 'grill' if your air fryer has that setting (or leave it at 200°C) for the final 5 minutes of cooking. Remove the chicken to a plate. Add everything else to the basket as well as the juices from the basting of the chicken. Place the chicken portions on top. Cook for 3 minutes to heat it through. Serve alongside the chicken. You could serve this with rice, or just enjoy it as it is. DM
