Tokyo có thể bị động đất lớn trong những năm tới

21/2/2012

Thủ đô Tokyo của Nhật Bản và các vùng ngoại ô thành phố này được dự báo có nhiều khả năng phải hứng chịu động đất lớn trong vài năm tới.

Đài TNHK dẫn lời chuyên viên Shinichi Sakai của Đại học Tokyo cho biết: “Hoạt động của lớp vỏ Trái Đất đã tăng từ 6 đến 7 lần. Vào thời điểm này, chúng tôi dự đoán 98% sẽ có động đất (ở Tokyo) trong vòng 30 năm tới, còn trong vòng 4 năm tới thì khoảng 70%."

Các chuyên viên cũng dùng máy tính để tiên liệu nguy cơ thiệt hại của Tokyo khi có một trận động đất. Kết quả cho thấy nếu gặp động đất có 7,3 độ, sẽ có khoảng 11.000 người chết và 850.000 nhà cửa bị phá hủy.

Trước những cảnh báo trên, chính quyền thành phố Tokyo đang tích cực chuẩn bị để đối phó và giảm thiểu thiệt hại do động đất gây ra.

Tại Công ty Shimizu, các chuyên viên đang nghiên cứu các công nghệ xây dựng tiên tiến để chống động đất, ví dụ như móng tòa nhà làm bằng chất cao su đặc để có thể chịu đựng sức lắc của động đất, hoặc cho tòa nhà nổi một phần trên mặt nước để giảm tác động của sức lắc.

(TTXVN)

http://vnexpress.net/gl/khoa-hoc/2012/02/tokyo-co-the-bi-dong-dat-lon-trong-nhung-nam-toi/

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Our Hearts Go Out To You

The devastation in Japan keeps sinking in deeper as the days go by. I cannot believe the layers of impact - literally and figuratively - as I tune into news reports online. Aftershocks, flooding, radiation (!!), and bitter cold, all after a horrendous earthquake felt across hundreds of miles and the decimation from a tsunami. The story I want to share is my small way to try and offset the heartbreak, a story of love. I wanted to share with you some of the wonderful and sweet people we came across as we traveled. I hope you will smile and delight in viewing these interesting, luminous spirits.

Our first day, Shimokitazawa

 

 

He made amazing drinks from inside a tiny van, the "Motoya Express"

 

My mocha and interesting items on the menu

 

At Tsukiji Market

 

My beautiful friend A, who was with her parents when the earthquake struck (and is ok!)

It doesn't get any cuter than this...

Almost unbearably adorable

Near Arashiyama, the bamboo forest

At Kiyumizu-dera temple in Kyoto - post coming soon

The stylish winter in Takayama - story soon

If you are looking for a way to help you can give here, here, and here - few organizations whose members work so hard, and that I love. Thank you for your concern and compassion!

Let us send love and relief to the people struck by the devastation in Japan.

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Amazing Tsukiji Market, and a Guest Blog Appearance

Please tell me that you are still loving the photographs from Japan. Because, while it is becoming a cherished memory further in the depths of my mind, there are some incredible images yet to share. 

While traveling and since I've been back, I have been cooking up a treat for you all with a lovely woman halfway around the world. She is passionate about delicious foods and the photography that captures them so well. Sarka hails from Prague and currently lives in London, and has a penchant for a lot of the things that speak to my own heart (and after this long day, red wine is front and center!). Realizing that we have a lot in common, she invited me to guest blog, and today, one of my most incredible experiences while in Japan is shared here and at her blog, Cook your Dreams. We both hope you enjoy this shared adventure!

Which brings me to the phenomenon that is Tsukiji (pronounced "tskee-jee") Market in Tokyo. I'd taken a trip there before and marveled at the endless stalls of exotic and alien creatures. Many fresh from the kill, and still many others kept alive in filtered temporary quarters boxed in styrofoam, until their ends would come too. I can say in both experiences that walking through the wet, bustling aisles was a fascinating, gruesome, and humbling experience. Oh, and freezing. It escapes me to understand how these men and women survive countless hours in a day (for their lifetimes, mind you) in this wet, chilly stadium-market. One of the many enigmas of this incredible place....

Dried goods were part of an outdoor secondary market encircling the stadium

These were alive and moving...

Fresh clams

Left, the man occasionally placed his hands on that teapot to keep warm. Right, fresh tuna.

Carting away tuna heads

Left, 4-foot lengths of frozen tuna waiting to be carted. Right, discards.

After hours wandering around, I couldn't feel my fingers or toes. Small price to pay to witness the whirring kerosene-powered foot trucks; the careful and expert butchering of mollusks and tuna; the late-morning banter amongst colleagues, a sure sign that their work day was near its end and that the customary communal meal was next. 

J and I were starving, even through the empathy and pity we felt towards these incredible creatures. At one stall, a smiling older gentleman (pictured in the red jacket, well above) offered us advice on where to go for some of the best sushi we would ever have. And though numb and ravenous, we managed to find it and wait in a line that made satisfaction a further forty minute delay... but it was worth it.

Our sushi master preparing omakase - oyshi!!

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