Japan

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Tepco Halts Water Filtering at Fukushima

Power company running out of room to store contaminated water

(Newser) - Tokyo Electric launched its much-hyped water filtration system yesterday at its foundering Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant—only to shut it down a mere five hours later. The setback is very serious, notes the New York Times, with Tepco in grave danger of running out of room for the tens of...

Japanese Kids to Carry Radiation Meters

Fukushima city issuing dosimeters to 34K schoolchildren

(Newser) - For tens of thousands of schoolchildren in Japan, this year's back-to-school kit will include a radiation detector. Officials in Fukushima City, 37 miles south of the Fukushima nuclear complex, say that to address the concerns of parents, the dosimeters will be given to some 34,000 children from nursery...

Japan Doubles Estimate of Radioactive Fallout at Fukushima Dai-ichi Plant
 Japan Doubles Fallout Estimate 
Jun 7, 2011 12:51 PM CDT

Japan Doubles Fallout Estimate

Government promises to create independent watchdog

(Newser) - The closer investigators look, the worse the news gets out of Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi plant. A new government report doubles the estimated radioactive fallout from 370,000 to 770,000 terabecquerels so far, reports the BBC . If a terabecquerel sounds a little obscure, it may be easier to fathom...

Japan Bans 'Radioactive' Green Tea

Contamination found in tea plantations near Fukushima

(Newser) - Some green tea just got unhealthy. Japan has banned the shipment of green tea leaves from a wide swath of tea-growing regions north of Tokyo after excessive levels of radioactive contamination were detected. The ban, the latest to affect produce from around the Fukushima nuclear plant, covers both fresh and...

Japan's PM Beats Censure, Hints He'll Resign

Naoto Kan acknowledged 'shortcomings' after earthquake

(Newser) - Prime Minister Naoto Kan defeated a no-confidence motion today over his handling of Japan's triple disasters, but the victory may be short lived—he said he is willing to resign once the country's recovery kicks in. Kan, who has been criticized for delays in the construction of temporary...

Japan to Workers: Save Energy, Wear Hawaiian Shirts

Government looks to go casual amid power shortages

(Newser) - It's going to be a sweaty summer in Japanese government offices: The country is facing power shortages caused by the nuclear crisis, but many bureaucrats are balking at suggestions that they dress down for the summer to cut the need for air conditioning. The government's "Super Cool...

Opera Stars Ditch Japan Tour Over Radiation Fears

Experts say there's nothing to worry about

(Newser) - A pair of New York’s top opera stars due to sing in Japan have canceled their performances following the earthquake, the AP reports. Now, the Metropolitan Opera has to “scour the world” to find replacement singers for soprano Anna Netrebko and tenor Joseph Calleja, even though experts said...

Fukushima's Tsunami Plan: One Page

Nuclear plant thought it was immune to waves, thanks to decade-old memo

(Newser) - Nuclear officials in Japan thought the Fukushima reactors were safe from the biggest waves a quake could hurl at them—thanks to a decade-old, one-page memo from the plant operator, reports the AP . Granted, it’s a double-size page, but it gives few details to back its claim that no...

Japan Gives Russell Brand the Boot

Katy Perry says hubby deported for prior convictions

(Newser) - Russell Brand probably won't be extolling the virtues of Japanese hospitality anytime soon: The 35-year-old British comedian arrived in Tokyo to watch wife Katy Perry perform, only to get tossed from the country, reports Fox News. "So...my husband just got deported from Japan," tweeted the singer....

Quake Sent Japan Back Into Recession

Exports, domestic spending hit hard by disasters

(Newser) - More misery for Japan: The triple disasters that struck the country in March sent the country's economy sliding into its second recession in three years, according to the latest government figures. The earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis disrupted production and caused a collapse in consumer spending, reports the BBC...

Climber Dies 835 Feet From Everest's Peak

Takashi Ozaki became ill during climb

(Newser) - A Japanese mountaineer has died tragically close to Mount Everest’s peak. While attempt to reach the 29,035-foot summit, Takashi Ozaki, 59, became ill; he was headed down the slopes when he collapsed at a height of 28,200 feet, the AP reports. Ozaki, who’d been scaling the...

Workers Venture Back Into Exploded Reactor

They're attempting to use ventilation system to clear radioactive air

(Newser) - Workers entered one of the damaged reactor buildings at Japan's stricken nuclear power plant today for the first time since it was rocked by an explosion in the days after a devastating earthquake, the country's nuclear safety agency said. They'll attempt to connect ventilation equipment in Unit...

Japanese Gadget Allows Long-Distance Smooching

Tech students design boxes for online kissing

(Newser) - In a long-distance relationship? Now you don’t need an airplane to kiss your partner: Japanese students have created a gadget for online snogging. The device looks like a box with a straw attached. One kisser turns the straw with his tongue, prompting the straw on the other end of...

Livid Parents Give Officials Bag of Radioactive Dirt

Fukushima parents angered by decision to raise radiation exposure levels

(Newser) - Parents outraged by the Japanese government's decision to raise the acceptable radiation exposure for children 20-fold presented government ministers in Tokyo with a bag of radioactive dirt from a school playground. The government says the move to increase the safety level from one to 20 millisieverts per year is...

Japan's Auto Sales Plummet 51%

Quake-prompted parts shortage leads to largest plunge in history

(Newser) - Japan saw auto sales drop 51% in April compared to sales a year earlier, the biggest plunge since record-keeping began in 1968. The earthquake- and tsunami-prompted parts shortage squeezed production and dealers’ supplies; just 108,824 vehicles sold last month. Toyota was the hardest-hit, with sales sinking 68.7% to...

S&amp;P Downgrades Japan, Too
 S&P Downgrades Japan, Too 
Apr 27, 2011 8:24 AM CDT

S&P Downgrades Japan, Too

Rating agency fears cost of rebuilding will damage country's finances

(Newser) - Looks like the US has some company: Standard & Poor’s has downgraded Japan’s credit outlook to negative, much as it did for the US last week. In Japan’s case the culprit is, of course, the earthquake and tsunami, which S&P believes could cost the government as...

Japan Launching Massive Recovery Mission

Soldiers aim to retrieve bodies from land and sea

(Newser) - Japan will begin an extensive recovery mission tomorrow, sending almost 25,000 soldiers into the disaster zone to look for the bodies of last month’s earthquake and tsunami victims. About 14,300 people are confirmed dead, but another 12,000 are still missing and presumed killed, the AP reports....

Pope Talks Japan, Iraq in Rare TV Chat

First time Benedict has used television to speak directly with public

(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI marked Good Friday by holding his first-ever televised question-and-answer session. “In His Image” aimed to update the Catholic Church’s image as the pope offered prerecorded responses to questions from around the world. Among the seven questioners was a 7-year-old in Japan, who asked why her...

Japan: Here, Eat Some Veggies
 Japan: Here, Eat Some Veggies 
Apr 16, 2011 6:20 AM CDT

Japan: Here, Eat Some Veggies

They're good for you, not oozing radiation

(Newser) - Japan has become the latest ardent convert of the locavore movement, reports the Washington Post, launching a public relations blitz intent on convincing its citizenry that produce fresh from the nuclear-contaminated Fukushima prefecture is safe, even yummy. The government even opened a restaurant yesterday, making a show of high-ranking politicians...

TEPCO Must Pay Fukushima Evacuees

Families will receive about $12K each as compensation

(Newser) - Tokyo Electric Power Co. has been ordered to pay evacuees a little something for their troubles—"little" being the operative word, complain many. Starting April 28, each family will receive about $12,000; individuals will get about $9,000, the AP reports. While some say it's a good...

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