Jana's Dispatches From Japan

This past week, I did a report on the city of Napa and it’s close ties to its sister city Iwanuma in Miyagi Prefecture. Iwanuma is home to the Sendai Airport and was hard hit by the tsunami. I met Charlie Ray, one of the founding members of the sister city program. He met us at the Napa City Hall with an album filled with photos of his past visits to Iwanuma and the many friends he made over the years. I was touched by his tears and great concern for his Japanese friends.

On Sunday March 27, 2011 at the Napa Opera House Ray and a dedicated group of Napa Valley residents are holding a fundraising benefit concert for Iwanuma.

http://www.cityofnapa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1303&Itemid=824

As Ray pointed out, the Japanese cherry trees from Iwanuma that were gifts to Napa,  are beginning to blossom around the city now. He hopes people will remember the strong roots of friendship between the two sister cities and reach out to help.

Some people have asked me about why so many Japanese people seen in the news coverage are wearing white masks. Actually, it is a common practice during the flu or allergy season in Japan and is not related to the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant situation or radiation.

When I first went to live in Japan years ago, I was surprised to see so many people wearing masks at certain times of the year. Then, a Japanese relative explained to me that people wear the masks to prevent catching or spreading germs. One trip in a train or subway during rush hour and you can appreciate the idea. With people packed in tightly…sometimes with just inches between your face and a stranger’s…many people don’t have a hand free in crowded train cars to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. So the mask can be a convenient barrier to prevent the spread of germs.

March 16 - Well, today, we left Japan. It was not an easy decision. With the uncertainty, though, over the Fukushima nuclear reactors, many foreign press are pulling back or pulling out. 

I’ll update soon on our final hours in Tokyo….

Tonight (Tokyo daytime) the U.S. Embassy announced it will have government chartered transport planes to help U.S. citizens leave Japan and go to “safehaven” spots in Asia. The evacuation flights from Narita and Haneda airports will begin Thursday March 17th at 6 p.m.  (2 a.m. PST)

Wednesday March 16

He said his name is Mr. Asami. He’s a Tokyo taxi driver we met outside our hotel. When we hopped in his cab, I started speaking with him in Japanese, asking why there was such a long queue of taxis (20-30?) lined up there. He said it’s because there were hardly any passengers around and it wasn’t worth it to drive around the city using up gas.  Right now, there are problems with adequate gasoline supplies. Mr. Asami said when he went to the gas station, there was a 20 liter (about 5 gallon) limit per car.  He doesn’t know whether he’ll be able to get enough tomorrow. Another example of how this earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan is impacting so many people in some way. Even a Tokyo taxi driver. Taihen… ( “it’s very difficult” in English).”

Wednesday March 16 -7pm Japan time (Wed. 3am PST)

Well, we got back to the hotel tonight and it is COLD outside. There’s an unseasonable cold snap that has brought freezing temps and snow to northeastern Japan. That isn’t going to help all of the evacuees who are in shelters or those without power or supplies. It’s supposed to continue through tomorrow. You just have to feel for all of those in the disaster zone. Can they just get one break?