Meltdown
It's all anyone can think of now. If you have been following the news you should know that there is a nuclear reactor in Fukushima near meltdown-point. And there have been rolling scheduled black-outs in the Kanto region.
On Sunday I saw that the trains were moving normally and that everything seemed fine. I took a train into Tokyo and went over my apartment contact with my realtor. It took about 2 hrs to go over all the papers, and I was feeling tired. So I decided I'd spend the night in Tokyo and take the first train back home, that way I'd make it in time for work.
I stopped at a drugstore near my new apartment and bought a breakfast for tomorrow. I went to bed.
It's 4:20 the next morning. I wake up, brush my teeth, wash my face and head down to the station to catch the 5:02. There's a paper sign on a metal shutter: " JR Railways is sorry to inform you that it is stopping various trainlines due to blackouts. The Chuo express will run."
I just stare at it. Why does it say the Chuo will run if they are not gonna open the station? People around me look confused and don't really seem to know what to do. I went back home and tried to think. I saw that the first line they opened was Yamanote so I decided, fuck Chuo, I'm walking to Shinjuku. I started out again just in time to see the magical Chuo express! I crammed myself into a pocket of space between 4 other tired people and rode to Shinjuku, then to Nippori, and then to Kita Senju! I just needed to get on the Tobu and I would be home!
Unfortunately Tobu man had something to say about that, mainly that Tobu decided nobody uses its line enough and they were cutting all service all day, sorry.
I was completely dumbfounded and spent a day trying to formulate a way back home. It was surreal. When I went back to my apartment, I stopped by the same drugstore....NIGHT AND DAY-the difference was, that is.
Less than 12 hours ago where the shelves were once stocked, they lay empty. When people woke up that morning, and saw what I saw somehow they translated that as "the apocalypse is coming we'd better prepare."
Wanna see a Kanto grocery store?
Wanna see the cup noodle aisle?
People of Kanto: We are now conserving energy in order to support the people of Tohoku. Why aren't we exercising the same restraint when we shop? Take a deep breath and DO NOT buy 10 liters of water. I really don't understand what you are trying to do. Worst case scenario is that another earthquake hits Tohoku and they end up even worse off bc they can't secure enough clean water or food.
(I understand that this prolly doesn't relate to anyone who reads my journal)
Btw the paper hanging says, "We please urge the customer to limit cup noodles to 4 per person"
On Sunday I saw that the trains were moving normally and that everything seemed fine. I took a train into Tokyo and went over my apartment contact with my realtor. It took about 2 hrs to go over all the papers, and I was feeling tired. So I decided I'd spend the night in Tokyo and take the first train back home, that way I'd make it in time for work.
I stopped at a drugstore near my new apartment and bought a breakfast for tomorrow. I went to bed.
It's 4:20 the next morning. I wake up, brush my teeth, wash my face and head down to the station to catch the 5:02. There's a paper sign on a metal shutter: " JR Railways is sorry to inform you that it is stopping various trainlines due to blackouts. The Chuo express will run."
I just stare at it. Why does it say the Chuo will run if they are not gonna open the station? People around me look confused and don't really seem to know what to do. I went back home and tried to think. I saw that the first line they opened was Yamanote so I decided, fuck Chuo, I'm walking to Shinjuku. I started out again just in time to see the magical Chuo express! I crammed myself into a pocket of space between 4 other tired people and rode to Shinjuku, then to Nippori, and then to Kita Senju! I just needed to get on the Tobu and I would be home!
Unfortunately Tobu man had something to say about that, mainly that Tobu decided nobody uses its line enough and they were cutting all service all day, sorry.
I was completely dumbfounded and spent a day trying to formulate a way back home. It was surreal. When I went back to my apartment, I stopped by the same drugstore....NIGHT AND DAY-the difference was, that is.
Less than 12 hours ago where the shelves were once stocked, they lay empty. When people woke up that morning, and saw what I saw somehow they translated that as "the apocalypse is coming we'd better prepare."
Wanna see a Kanto grocery store?
Wanna see the cup noodle aisle?
People of Kanto: We are now conserving energy in order to support the people of Tohoku. Why aren't we exercising the same restraint when we shop? Take a deep breath and DO NOT buy 10 liters of water. I really don't understand what you are trying to do. Worst case scenario is that another earthquake hits Tohoku and they end up even worse off bc they can't secure enough clean water or food.
(I understand that this prolly doesn't relate to anyone who reads my journal)
Btw the paper hanging says, "We please urge the customer to limit cup noodles to 4 per person"