Photographs from a small group of islands
After a week that has no doubt aged us all, and definitely changed Japan — quite feasibly forever — some slightly more positive news in regards the Fukushima nuclear plant, and a bit of very welcome weekend sun, allowed Tokyo and its citizens the much needed chance to rest.
Relax.
And recuperate.
Before the worries begin once again.
There’s no getting away from it that the continuing problems at the Fukushima nuclear plant are a real concern, especially so for those nearby, but in Tokyo, well over 200 kilometres away, we are fine. No, better than fine actually. And, if it weren’t for occasional blackouts along with the scarcity of a few nonessential foodstuffs, life would be damned near normal.
Not that you’d think that seeing some of the sensationalist, woefully inaccurate ‘journalism’ coming out of the West. Possibly the worst of a sadly growing bad bunch being Britain’s, The Sun, with their GET OUT OF TOKYO NOW nonsense. A piece of so-called reporting that’s about as factual as the fact that I’m a 15-year-old from Finland called Fifi.
The thing is though, in a mere bid to sell more newspapers or attract more views, this kind of misinformation is bad enough, but when it causes terrible stress to those with loved ones in the areas apparently all set to be engulfed by a looming plume of radiation, it’s a very different story indeed. And yet even that’s nowhere near as despicable as the attention it’s detracting from all those north of the capital struggling with inadequate food, warmth and medicine. An enormous number of people who are suffering. Now. And need all the attention, plus more importantly aid, that all these supposedly doomsday scenarios don’t.
So ignore all the nonsense. Here in Tokyo we are doing fine. It’s nothing we can’t handle. Not by a long shot. None of us. It’s simply a case of get up.
Get out.
And get on with it as best as we can.
In a city renowned for its train network, a system that in many ways acts as Tokyo’s lifeblood, it’s quite bizarre indeed when, due to rolling blackouts, it’s not functioning — or at least not fully.
Not in a sense of the crowds though, but rather a lack of them. The odd, eerie silence of a place that should be bright and bustling with people — but isn’t.
And the quiet confusion this causes.
One that can’t be countered by jumping in the car either, as panic buying of fuel is even more excessive than in the supermarkets, with a line round the block before this petrol station even opened resulting in it being sold out in next to no time.
All of which isn’t life threatening. Not even inconvenient when one considers what could have happened. And it’s certainly nothing like the impending doom being peddled by some media outlets. It does, however, make for some very strange times indeed.
A violent jolt early yesterday, and another worrying shake last night, were a stark reminder that aftershocks are still a real threat, but the continuing uncertainty surrounding Fukushima’s nuclear plant is now arguably an even bigger fear — especially so as radiation, regardless of how negligible, was detected in the capital.
Not that there is any panic. Quite the opposite in fact. Even with the implementation of rolling blackouts. And, as I mentioned yesterday, there is a genuine feeling of camaraderie, with Tokyo far friendlier than it usually is.
Until that is it comes to necessities, then, even though it is done with the minimum amount of fuss, and the utmost politeness, it’s every man and woman for themselves. Meaning rice is now a rarity, as, perhaps more surprisingly, is bread. There is simply none to be had.
Apart from the really crap stuff.
Which even those in a hoarding panic won’t purchase.
And it’s the same with milk.
Some vegetables and fruit.
Plus without a doubt, instant noodles. They were the very first to go. All of which isn’t life threatening, and in many ways is merely a minor hindrance, but it does add to the growing sense of unease. Probably further panic buying too.
No doubt due to the uncertainty surrounding the increasingly worrying state of the nuclear plant in Fukushima, panic buying has started in Tokyo, with instant noodles in particular all but gone from supermarket shelves. And where I live at least, there’s no point even queuing for fuel anymore, as the petrol stations have not only sold out, but simply closed.
Add into this mix the confusion of scheduled blackouts which all but haven’t happened, but are causing un-Tokyo-like transportation chaos, and it could well be a recipe for upheaval, or at the very least unrest.
Yet it’s not. Far from it in fact. Instead, everyone is going about their business, or at least trying to do, in a calm, dignified manner.
And, for a city that can certainly be very frosty, it’s noticeably more friendly. Nods, smiles and the odd konichi-wa are suddenly commonplace, with a definite feeling of, ‘we are all in this together’, now prominent.
Plus, were once the presence of others would be merely put up with, it’s now happily embraced — sought out even.
Of course it won’t last. No matter how much I wish it would. But it’s incredibly nice nonetheless.
Blackouts may well be starting from tomorrow, and petrol is suddenly at a premium, but in many ways it was business as usual in Tokyo today; trains were running, shops opened and people were out and about doing whatever it is they do.
That said, everything was understandably subdued, with the horrible events further north never really far away. And, at a fire walking festival that perhaps surprisingly went ahead, but at the same time offered those there a welcome break, prayers that would have otherwise been directed elsewhere, were focused solely on those who have tragically lost their lives, or loved ones.
A gesture that, even for those not religious like myself, was incredibly poignant, and a stark reminder of just how lucky we were in this massive city of millions.
