Life in Japan

Yosakoi

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Wed, 11 May 2011 02:39:00 +0000

During the golden week time many Japanese people go on vacation. As a result we can see my festivals in Japan. Due to the earthquake these have been heavily reduced.

One of my favorites is the yosakoi festival in Aomori.

This year there were a few problems with the Kanto festival demonstration.

YouTube Video

Luckily nobody was hurt.

YouTube Video

Many people came out to see the cherry blossoms too.
My wife wore her kimono but unfortunately she was the only one.

Now cherry blossoms have finished and the streets are quiet around hirosaki. Much quieter than Aomori.

Location:Hirosaki,Japan

Fall in tourism in Aomori prefecture

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Mon, 02 May 2011 06:00:00 +0000

Now is the golden week holiday but with the high speed Japanese Shinkansen train still not working from the earthquake tourism has declined in northern Japan.

The city of hirosaki is said to be one of the most beautiful places to see cherry blossoms during the holiday season. Thousands of people from all around the world flock to see the beautiful pink blossom.

This year however people have cancelled their plans either due to the lack of transport or out of fear of earthquakes and tsunamis.

Much of Aomori prefecture relies on tourism as it is an isolated city from much of Japan. Late last year saw the arrival of the first Shinkansen from Tokyo to Aomori city running at 300km an hour and can make the trip in 3hrs 10mins.

As of this time the Shinkansen is running at a reduced speed.

Despite the reduction in visitors the cherry blossoms still came out.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Hirosaki,Japan

Is Japan trying to kill me?

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 03:31:00 +0000

The past three years living in Japan have been the most life threatening. I have spent most of my life in England having been born there and grew up there. It wasn't until I just turned 22 that I left for Japan.

In all those 22 years living in England I have never been in hospital for anything more than an in growing toe nail. The only time I spent the night in a hospital was by choice when my parents wanted my ears straightened when I was very young.

Before leaving for Japan I looked up advice about vaccines and common diseases in Japan. There was nothing serious suggested but I still went and had a full course of hepatitis B vaccines. The course was three injections over three months and was not available free on the NHS. I decided to take the course even though the affects of hepatitis B were not severe in Japan because exposure was minimal. Better safe than sorry right!

I had other vaccinations before such as MMR so I went feeling I would probably get stomachache and worst.

About 4 months into my trip to Japan I got bumps all over my body. The first doctor I went to told me I had flea bites as the bumps were only minor. I threw away all my bedding and cleaned my apartment with a raging fever. The next day the bumps got bigger and started to blister. I went to a skin doctor who diagnosed me with chicken pox. The following days the bumps got bigger and spread all over my body. My fever was so high they took me into hospital where I stayed for the week.

I didn't want to see anyone in the hospital as I was covered in bumps and I could not wash or shave. My girlfriend, Yuuri (now my wife), was worried about me but I would not let her see me until I gave in and she came. She visited me every time she could. She would bring me food and drinks and talk to me. It made me realise how much she must have liked me.

I spent the next week indoors at home not going outside. The doctors did tests and said my liver was damaged. After more tests they concluded I had caught hepatitis C and briefed me on how I will have to take injections for the rest of my life and how I will have fits of great depression, possibly even feeling suicidal.

This was a scary prospect for someone who had barely spent a year away from home in a foreign country. The doctors told me to wait 4 months and not to drink. They said if my liver recovered then I had not caught the hepatitis C virus. That was a painful 4 months, not only could I not drink, and I needed a drink at that time, I had to prepare myself for bad news.

4 months later and the doctors told me I hadn't. I felt bad anyway, at least at first but surely enough I felt good to be healthy and I hadn't itched my scars so they mostly healed well.

The next year set to go well and later on I was set to finish my contract with AEON. Although the last few months I had caught a cold with a persistent cough. I should have gone to the doctors but on my day off I had concert tickets in Tokyo and I was really looking forward to it. I took a load of painkillers and went and had a great time. I was feeling rough though.

I came back and still had a bad cough all month, it was really hurting my chest. With a week left at work I did a busy Saturday and was feeling tired. I cycled home but was really getting out of breath. At home I lay down but every breath was so painful. I fell to the floor and called Yuuri again, i could barely speak and I lay on the floor waiting for her.

Yuuri took me to the hospital and I was in so much pain. Every breath felt like my lungs were getting smaller and my heart was being squeezed.
The doctor x-rayed me and eventually gave me painkillers. With painkillers I could inhale again, it was the pain that stopped me so much.

The diagnosis this time was pneumonia with pleurisy. The inside of my left lung had filled with fluid and it had surrounded the outside of my lung too. The left side was pushing hard against my heart every time I inhaled. I missed my leaving party and my final week at work.

It seemed Japan was trying to kill me but I thought I just had bad luck. I left Japan soon after and didn't return for 6 months.

The next time I came back was in February 2011, almost three years later. I was starting my home and new life further south. I was offered a place in Ishinomaki a beautiful coastal town near Sendai. I accepted almost instantly but was asked if I could change to the mountainous area of Tendo in Yamagata. I felt down about losing such a beautiful area such as Ishinomaki but decided it is better to be cooperative and I took the place in Tendo.

The next month a huge tsunami came a swept Japan, taking with it the town of Ishinomaki. Many people died and most were left homeless including the teacher of Ishinomaki. I was safe in the mountains of Yamagata but danger was near.

About 160km away the earthquake had struck Fukushima nuclear power plant and it was venting radiation. People were evacuating from the cities. My company offered to send me to Hirosaki in the north prefecture of Aomori. This was the very same prefecture where I had originally come to when I first started in Japan. Although it has been difficult finding a home here. The future seems safer at least from a life and death point of view.

I hope Japan is not trying to kill me but I am getting suspicious.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Hirosaki,Japan

Second earthquake

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:43:00 +0000

Another big earthquake hit japan last night.

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck knocking out power and gas in northern japan. The quake came from the same place as the first one on 11/3.

A tsunami warning followed and a few people are seriously injured.

Currently there are no trains so work is cancelled.

Location:３丁目,Aomori,Japan

Aomori

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:31:00 +0000

I finally got a truck to go to yamagata and get my stuff.
It's been difficult getting a truck due to the earthquake and everyone moving.

It was a long 5 hour drive there and back but we needed to keep costs down so Yuuri's father drove.

We took the Tohoku expressway south. This is the fastest road but also expensive. ¥19,000 return.

Once in yamagata tendo we quickly loaded up.

The road was bumpy and in a bad way due to earthquake damage.

We drove through sun, night and heavy snow by the end. We left the stuff in the truck and went to bed.

We rented the truck for 24hrs 8am-8am. So next morning we got up early still tired from the journey. We unloaded the furniture into Yuuri's grandmothers garage.

There it stays, I asked my company if they'd help pay the ¥65,000 it cost to drive the truck. They eventually offered to pay ¥40,000.

My company has also not helped me find a place to live. I'm lucky I can stay with Yuuri's parents but most of my clothing and furniture is in storage.

I've been very disappointed with how my company has organised this transfer. Having only been with the company a couple of months this is a bad introduction.

I work in hirosaki city so I take 2 trains to work everyday costing ¥1800 a day.

I hope I can find a place soon.

Location:１丁目,Aomori,Japan

Transferring

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:23:00 +0000

Since being transferred to hirosaki Aomori since the quake we have been trying to get settled.

I have been sharing an apartment rented by the school with the outgoing teacher. He is great and I knew him when he first came to Aomori 2 years ago.

I decided not to take his apartment since it's old and small. Perfect for one single teacher travelling with no furniture. The school also offer furnished apartments at additional cost. Since I had my own furniture I opted not to take the school package.

Now they are in a predicament because now they have a furnished apartment and no one to stay in it.

I still have no where to stay though because I have not had chance to look round due to working all week. Even if I could find somewhere it would still be unfurnished.

The school have asked me to buy the furniture anyway which seems crazy since I already have my own. I also have to leave Friday so this weekend I'm going to be homeless again.

Although we have no classes and plenty of admin time I still can't take a day off to make this work more smoothly.

It all comes down to this weekend.

Location:２丁目,Hirosaki,Japan

Radiation level 5 beware

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:30:00 +0000

Radiation levels are still a worry for the people in japan.
It has been officially revealed that neutrons have been released with the radiation.

This makes us worry about just how much more the government hasn't told us.

The radiation level has also been increased to five.

Iodine tablets help stop people from absorbing the radiation. These tablets also come with big health risks.
It's recommend that people eat seaweed. This can also help with less side effects.

If iodine tablets are acquired then the best time to take them is only when you are exposed to the radiation.

Location:３丁目,Aomori,Japan

Leaving Sendai

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:41:00 +0000

Although Sendai was bustling with people many shops were closed.

Notable closed shops included the convenience stores which are usually open 24/7. I have rarely seen these shops closed and I can only assume they have no stock.

Many people stood in great long lines it was like being at an amusement park except no happy smiling faces just solemn patient stares. All were waiting for the small city buses to take them home. Many more will be waiting for hours.

I reserved my ticket for Aomori and there are still seats available on the bus. They say some of the roads are damaged so they will have to drive slow

We set off at 17:20 it may take 5hrs to arrive.

Location:３丁目,Sendai,Japan

Life in boxes....

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:15:00 +0000

Today we leave. Our life in boxes.

The new teacher moved in to the apartment. I left with just a few of my clothes and my laptop. He arrived with less than that.

I'm not sure when I can get my things from tendo. They are all stored in the kitchen.

I am on the bus to sends now. I enjoyed working for James Tendo. It was great working with Jameson and Noriko. They had good humour and were easy going.

From Sendai I will head north to Aomori.

Location:Tendo,Japan

Ishinomaki teacher tendo

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:21:00 +0000

The James ishinomaki arrived in tendo yamagata today after losing his home. He has spent the past week with his wife and two kids in a shelter. One kid about 3 years old the other only 6 months.

I have sped up my packing. I will leave my house on the 24th bound for Aomori. I will only take some clothes and I'll leave most here. There are no moving services operating now and I'll have to wait to the end of April before I'll see my stuff.

I'll get the bus from tendo to Sendai.

Then from Sendai the bus to Aomori.

I'll stay at Yuuri's parents house and meet the teacher in hirosaki 40 mins away by train.

I will begin teaching on 28th March

Ishinomaki survival

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:12:00 +0000

The teacher at ishinomaki is currently living in a shelter. He is there with his family.

I will move out as soon as I can so he can take my place. I still don't know what I can do with my furniture as it is all brand new.

The other teacher in hirosaki also has to move out and leave all his stuff.

I will move to hirosaki asap

Report from the city

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:20:00 +0000

The only way to yamagata city is by bus and as we got to the terminal we saw people lining up to leave.

They were bound for cities on the west coast like Sakata.

The city was busy with many transposed but also people shopping on this bank holiday weekend.

Starbucks was open but had no milk and mos burger had a limited supply. They only offered one item per person.
One man came in wanting fifty pieces of chicken but was turned away.

The trains remained stationary.

Location:１丁目,Yamagata,Japan

I just don't get it

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 05:55:00 +0000

I'm all for getting japan moving again but today I saw 4 driving school cars.

How can they have fuel to learn to drive while others starve from not getting supplies.

Strange

Bad news about the donation...

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 02:02:00 +0000

My number of visitors is on a weekly scale and today very few people visited. This meant the number of visitors was down to 1,500 giving a total of 15,000¥.

This very bad news and made me think that those people in need don't need a website right now. They need the donation.

So if I'm not out of place to say it, I donated

¥26,260 ($325/£200)

Thank you all very much for reading.

Location:２丁目,Tendo,Japan

How much should I donate?

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 13:08:00 +0000

Please visit this blog and what ever the total number of visitors is by tomorrow I will add a zero on to the end of that number and donate that money to charity.

Now I have

1703 = 17,030 yen

Tomorrow I will donate so please visit as soon as you can.

And thank you

Location:２丁目,Tendo,Japan

Evacuation

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 06:23:00 +0000

As I was asking my boss about evacuating she gave me the offer of transferring to Hirosaki in Aomori.

Here we will be safe from radiation and earthquakes. Hirosaki is an old beautiful city in Aomori. It is 40mins from Aomori city by train and the trains are working there.

I will be teaching at Hirosaki university and living in the city centre. I will be closer to friends and family.

Its a big move again since moving from Aomori in July 2010 to Taichung I have moved again from there to Taipei and back to aomori in December 2010. In January 2011 I moved to England and spent time in London Nd Liverpool before staying in Rome Italy for a few days. At the start of February I flew back to Japan, this time to live in Tendo, yamagata. Now it's March 2011 and I'm moving again, this time bound back for Aomori, this time Hirosaki.

I hope I can settle there.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Evacuation makes me angry

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 08:50:00 +0000

Should it make me angry that teachers in yamagata have evacuated to America.

It means now I have to travel to yamagata while transport is not good and being outdoors is not good. I have to get the bus at 9pm and travel for an hour to get home.

So now if I leave I leave more work for others. I could be putting others in danger.

I hope the other teachers are safe but was there a real need to leave?

Should I stay or should I go?

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 04:50:00 +0000

Right now I am struggling with the idea of evacuation or stay.

Although the situation now is fine in yamagata things could chance.

For instance we could run out of food and we are running out of fuel. The nuclear power plant could explode or melt down.

I'm worried if I wait too long then transport will be impossible to use due to over crowding.

At the same time I cant turn my back on my co-workers and students who remain here.

Isn't it good for economy to keep working and restore japan? People in worse situations than me are working round the clock.

The last could be that there will be no problem and there will be no call to evacuate.

I just don't know what to do.

Location:２丁目,Tendo,Japan

Cooling fails

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 03:41:00 +0000

The cooling effort continues. The previous attempt to cool the reactors resulted poorly.

Now they focus on restoring power. A temporary transformer will be put in place in an attempt to cool the reactor.

Now I am considering evacuation. I have contacted my boss to gather some thoughts on this.

Engineer says don't panic just yet

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:07:00 +0000

I have just spoke to one of the engineers who helped build Fukushima number one power plant.

He said japan was not in danger and as soon as the plant could restore power they could cool the reactors.

Now the wind is blowing over the pacific so the majority of radiation is being blown there. If there is an explosion and radiation is blown into the sky then chances are it will be blown into the pacific.

If the wind blows over japan then is the time to panic.

Recovery in Tendo

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:26:00 +0000

The sun rises on another day after the quake. Perhaps the clear sky was a sign of good things.

In the distance you can just make out a rescue helicopter flying across the sky. The effort to save others continues.

I managed to find some milk and Yuuri found some eggs and bread. Things were looking better although still no kerosene or petrol.

On tv we saw shelters for evacuees. They had food but no fuel to keep warm. People are dying in shelters because they have no heaters.

It was nice to see the sun today but I wish it could shine just a little harder and warm those trapped in freezing conditions.

Location:１丁目,Tendo,Japan

Taylor Anderson - missing JET teacher

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 03:23:00 +0000

Taylor Anderson was taking part in the JET program in ishinomaki when the tsunami struck.

Mangokuura elementary school

As you can see the school is still standing but it is feared she left the school after the quake.

Her apartment remains intact and her neighbours spent the night of the earthquake in her complex however they say she never returned home.

If anyone knows anything please let me know or contact the American embassy.

japanemergencyusc@state.gov

Follow her progress here. http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/view?first_name=&id=japan.person-finder.appspot.com%2Fperson.2538296&last_name=&query=Taylor+Anderson&role=seek

Evacuation plan A

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:06:00 +0000

I have been advised by many to evacuate. The situation here isn't getting any better. The power plant is not getting much cooler and the government is running out of options.

The evacuation method would be to take a bus to yamagata city and then a bus to Sakata on the west coast.

From Sakata city we could get the local train to Akita.

Then from Akita we could get to Aomori were we have family.

The whole journey could take a day as we can only use local transport.

We would have food and heating there though.

Location:１丁目,Tendo,Japan

Visit my blog and I will donate

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:59:00 +0000

For how many people visit my blog by the 21st I will add zero to the end of that figure and donate the amount in yen to the Japanese earthquake victims.

So now I have 1102 so that would be 11,020¥ ($140/£86).

So keep visiting and the more I will donate.

I will donate 21st March

Thanks for visiting and stay safe.

Japanese girl rescued

colin.zeal@gmail.com (Colin Mitchell) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:08:00 +0000

We rescued a Japanese girl. Yuuri's sister flew into yamagata airport from haneda Tokyo today to escape radiation and danger.

She brought snacks from Tokyo too.

People living in yonezawa on the border of yamagata and Fukushima are making preparations to evacuate to Niigata on the west coast of japan.

The west coast remains unaffected by the tsunami and radiation. For now anyway

Location:２丁目,Tendo,Japan