Another strong earthquake in Japan

**CDNSushi** · 15th March 11, 08:30 AM

Okay, this one hit a LOT closer to home... We got a really good shaking at 22:31 local time March 15. The epicenter was about 1.5 hours to the East of us, in Fujinomiya City (Shizuoka Prefecture) Tokai region... It was a shallow (14km) quake that registered a 6+ (on the Japanese scale of intensity), and a 5 here in Kofu. Power lines are down over there, but everything seems to be up and running here.

Absolutely NO chance of me getting any sleep at this point with the chance of major aftershocks, so please excuse me as I sit here and ramble with a bourbon to help me relax as I sit here with many small-ish aftershocks coming one after another. It's getting to the point in the last few days that I just can't tell anymore whether I'm feeling an aftershock or if it's just ME shaking...

Good news 1: We're OK... The house seems to be as well. (Turned the gas off for the night and bled the lines to be sure though).

Good news 2: The nuclear power plant near us in Shizuoka Prefecture did not go into emergency shutdown and seems to be unaffected.

Good news 3: No possibility of tidal waves or tidal damage.

SO anyway... please keep Japan and the people here in your prayers and thoughts. People here are fairly calm, but it's clear that everyone is both physically and emotionally exhausted from everything. Aside from the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear emergencies, I've also been told that at least one volcano has erupted to the south. Seriously, folks. At this point, if Godzilla himself stepped out of Tokyo Bay, I wouldn't even be surprised.

**CDNSushi** · 15th March 11, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by seumasFinn

Glad you're all right and keeping your wits about you. While I don't know you, I'd been wondering last evening if you were managing as the bad news keeps coming in....

I've got one of these signs hanging up in my office at work,,, I think I might put one up in my home now too...

One of the office ladies at work is absolutely terrified of earthquakes, actually. I wasn't there on Friday to witness how my colleagues reacted to the quake there, but coming into the office today I was told that after they had evacuated the building, they found her hugging a tree as tight as she could out in the parking lot! Sheesh! Poor woman.

**llyd** · 15th March 11, 09:19 AM

Hang in there....even natto stops jiggling eventually.

**chewse** · 15th March 11, 09:36 AM

Be careful! Keep your bourbon close at hand and your liquor cabinet well stocked. Hopefully this crisis will be over soon.

**Andy Proffitt** · 15th March 11, 09:38 AM

Hope this is as close as it gets for you, every time I hear new news I say a prayer for you. And hopefully you won't have to see Godzilla or Cthulhu in the bay....that would just throw the calm right out the window.

**Macman** · 15th March 11, 10:42 AM

Thanks for letting us know how you're doing, Jim. From what I've seen, I'm very impressed at how the Japanese people are dealing with this nightmare. All the best to you.

**English Bloke** · 15th March 11, 11:28 AM

"When all around you seems chaos, maintain a sense of humour". Good advice which I'm glad to see you are following. Hang on in there ol' chum. we're thinking of you... All of you.

**Lallans** · 15th March 11, 01:13 PM

The Japanese people are showing the world what they're made of, indeed. I just hope they will ask for international assistance if they need or can use what is being offered. I remember after the Kobe quake they found that the authorities in that prefecture hadn't asked for or used outside help, I mean help from within Japan, due to the cultural notion that problems had to be handled locally, and promised their citizens they would reform that notion out of their thinking... hopefully that will extend internationally, I mean, this series of disasters is way beyond even Kobe. And anyway, good news, Godzilla continues to slumber peacefully at the bottom of the sea beneath his floating island.

**Downunder Kilt** · 15th March 11, 02:05 PM

CDNSushi, I fear that this will not be the last quake you guys get up there. Far North Australia experienced a magnitude 4 quake yesterday, no damage, no injuries.

My thoughts are still with the people of Japan

**Burly Brute** · 15th March 11, 02:57 PM

My whole intercultural studies class prayed together this morning for you and the Japanese as a whole. Definitely lots going out to everyone affected!