Japan to overtake China as top foreign owner of U.S. debt

Oh the world of high finance, where one debt-ridden nation can buy the debt of another debt-ridden nation.

(CNSNews.com) – After a 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan last March and sent a tsunami crashing into the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, causing a Japanese national emergency, some worried the Japanese would stop buying U.S. government debt—or even sell off some of what they already owned—thus precipitating a spike in the interest rates on that debt.

In fact, according to data published by the U.S. Treasury Department, Japan has done just opposite, buying more U.S. government debt–even as China has started to decrease its holdings of U.S. debt.

Data from the most recent 8 months published by the Treasury indicate that between the last day of June 2011 and the last day of February 2012, entities in Japan increased their holdings of U.S. Treasury securities from $881.6 billion to $1.0959 trillion. At the same time, entities in the People’s Republic of China decreased their holdings of U.S. Treasury securities from $1.307 trillion to $1.1789 trillion.

In other words, in just eight months, the Japanese increased their net holdings of U.S. government debt by $214.3 billion while the Chinese decreased theirs by $128.1 billion. On average, from the end of June through February (the last month for which data has been reported), the Japanese have closed the gap between their holdings of U.S. debt and China’s holdings of U.S. debt by about $53.13 billion per month.

At the end of June 2011, the Chinese owned $425.4 billion more in U.S. government debt than the Japanese. By the end of this February, the Chinese owned only $83 billion more than the Japanese. If the June-through-February trend continued through March and April–for which data has not yet been reported–the Japanese may have already overtaken the Chinese in ownership of U.S. debt.

Japanese menshes volunteer for ‘suicide corps’ at crippled Fukushima nuclear plant

Samurai mensch

The samurai spirit of honor and sacrifice still lives in Japan.

A team of elderly Japanese men and women have offered their services to help bring the the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant under control.

With characteristic stoic Japanese fatalism and sense of duty, the Skilled Veterans Corps, a group of retirees 60 and over, say they are ready and willing to enter the plant and slay the nuclear dragon that some of them believe their generation was responsible for.

About 250 skilled retirees have offered to go into the belly of the beast so far.

______________________________

CNN (h/t Daily Caller)- Up a narrow flight of stairs in a modest, non-descript office building, three retirees sit in a cramped room, hunched over their computers and mobile phones. They look like the planning committee for a neighborhood senior breakfast, not the leaders of a 250-member team attempting to defuse one of the worst nuclear meltdowns in history.

But that’s exactly what 72-year-old Yasuteru Yamada hopes his seniors group, the Skilled Veterans Corps, will do: help end the crisis at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The group, consisting only of retirees age 60 and up, says it is uniquely poised to work at the radiation-contaminated plant, as the cells of an older person’s body divide more slowly than a younger individual.

“We have to work instead of them,” says Yamada, referring to the estimated 1,000 workers currently at the nuclear plant. “Elders have less sensitivity to radiation. Therefore, we have to work.”

Yamada is a former engineer for Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. and offers decades of experience, he says. A cancer survivor, Yamada says he values his life but wants to make a difference in the years he has left.

Yamada pauses as his mobile phone rings. He pops out his hearing aids to answer. Another call from the news media, he says, as he excuses himself briefly.

Reporters from around the globe have called daily since Yamada announced the existence of his group.

They, including this reporter, are calling because of what the prime minister’s special adviser to the nuclear crisis publicly dubbed them, the “suicide corps.” Goshi Hosono, at a news conference last week, told reporters that while the government was grateful for the offer, there is no immediate need for the elderly volunteers.

Masaaki Takahashi, 65, bristles at the name Hosono gave his team. “I want them to stop calling us the ‘suicide corps’ or kamikazes,” he says. “We’re doing nothing special. I simply think I have to do something and I can’t allow just young people to do this.”

Takahashi is currently tasked with logging the names of donors and volunteers. He says there are more than 900 donors and 250 able-bodied seniors who want to don the white radiation suits and enter the grounds of the plant.

The reasons driving their desire to volunteer vary, according to the group, but none include a wish to die.

Kazuko Sasaki

Kazuko Sasaki, 69, the co-founder of the group, says she has a number of personal reasons why she wants to work at the plant. “My generation, the old generation, promoted the nuclear plants. If we don’t take responsibility, who will?”

But Sasaki is also pragmatic about the risks an older person is willing to take versus someone younger.

“When we were younger, we never thought of death. But death becomes familiar as we get older.

“We have a feeling that death is waiting for us. This doesn’t mean I want to die. But we become less afraid of death, as we get older.”

Sasaki also says a 30-year old exposed to radiation at the crippled plant might get cancer at 35 or 40. At her age, she’d be 75 or 80, and might have gotten cancer anyway, she says.

The owner of the nuclear plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), tells CNN it is thankful for the offer from the seniors group. But it says they currently have enough workers to control the crisis.  (more >>>)

Japanese coast guard releases amazing new tsunami footage

The Japanese Coast Guard has released new footage of the tsunami as it roared into Sendai. So massive is the inrush of sea, the cars and planes being swept away look like little toys.

Whoah…

New tsunami clip – “Hayaku!”

A new video has emerged of Japanese villagers in Iwaki City running for their lives, trying to escape a roiling wave of water that chases after them. The tsunami nips at their heals as they scramble desperately to make it to higher ground. People are screaming, “Hayaku! Hayaku!”, which means, “Hurry! Hurry!”

IDF medical delegation bids ‘sayonara’ to Japan

As first reported here 2 days ago, the IDF medical aid delegation to Japan has concluded its mission and is headed back to Israel.

Over the past 2 weeks, IDF medical personnel treated around 220 people at a clinic established in the earthquake-devastated Minami-Sanriko area of Japan. On Monday (Apr.10), they handed the keys to the clinic over to Japanese medical officials and left behind most all off their equipment.

Because the Israeli field clinic was the only functional one in the region, as the hospital was destroyed in the quake, the Israeli team decided to leave their entire clinic behind, including their x-ray machine, laboratory, and all their equipment.

The Japanese will use it as a temporary hospital. The  IDF team’s last days were spent training the Japanese hospital staff how to operate their equipment.

Arutz Sheva - The IDF medical aid delegation to Japan has concluded its activities and the delegation’s members are returning to Israel. The delegation, which provided medical services to the people of the disaster-stricken Minami-Sanriko area for two weeks, is expected to land at the Nevatim air base on Tuesday morning.

The IDF website reported the IDF has decided that most of the medical equipment brought to Japan, including X-ray equipment, will be left behind to be used by local medical officials to continue serving the population of the Minami-Sanriko area.

The IDF medical delegation arrived in the disaster zone two weeks ago and included members of the IDF Medical Corps, search and rescue specialists, and logistics and communications personnel from the Home Front Command.

Over the past two weeks, IDF medical personnel treated around 220 patients at the IDF medical clinic.

On Monday, the IDF delegation held a ceremony at which the keys to the medical clinic were handed over to Japanese medical personnel.

The ceremony, which was covered by many local media outlets, was attended by local officials, including the mayor of Minami-Sanriko, who was the first person to receive treatment at the clinic, and the mayor of Kurihara.

“The clinic you are leaving here is going to be a cornerstone of the recovery of our city which suffered a major disaster,” the Kurihara mayor said. “I have no doubt that your important contribution to the recovery of this place as well as the courteous treatment you gave our people will constitute an important milestone in relations between Israel and Japan.”

IDF medical team workers sing “Jerusalem City of Gold” with Japanese friends. Nice.

Previous posts about Israel’s field hospital in Japan:

• Israel field hospital delegation packing up, but leaving clinic and equipment behind
• Deputy Japanese FM visits IDF medical clinic
• IDF aid delegation to Japan enjoys some sport with the kids
• Israeli field hospital in Japan getting results – treats homeless 11-month old tsunami victim
• Israeli field hospital in Japan already seeing patients
• Israeli field hospital for Japan readies for take off
• Israel first nation to set up field hospital in Japan

Israel field hospital delegation packing up, but leaving clinic and equipment behind

Lt.Col. Dr. Amit Assa, Yuki Satu and her baby

The IDF field hospital set up in Japan about 2 weeks ago continues to get a steady stream of patients, including young mothers and babies, but the Israeli doctors and nurses will soon be leaving the clinic they established in the hands of local Japanese teams.

According to Dr. Ofer Merin’s blog, it looks as though the 58-man team of doctors, nurses, and assistants from the Home Front Command of the IDF Medical Corps is packing up to leave…but not completely.

Dr. Merin writes that because theirs is now the only clinic in the region, as the hospital was destroyed in the quake, the Israeli team has decided to leave their entire clinic behind, including their x-ray machine, laboratory, and all their equipment.

The Japanese have decided that a temporary hospital will be established at the Israeli clinic. In the IDF team’s last days they are training the surviving hospital staff how to operate their equipment.

Pictured (left to right): Mora Tomoku, Lt. Iris Badrak, Lt. Col. Dr. Amit Assa

For examples of the delegation’s work that you won’t likely read about, visit their blog ShaareZedekinJapan. It’s an interesting online diary of the thoughts and experiences of Dr. Ofer Merin and Dr. David Raveh. It also includes photos that haven’t appeared in any papers.

IDF Blog - Yuki Satu, 24, a new mother staying at an aid population center in Minamisanriku, gave birth to a girl six weeks ago by a Cesarean section. Due to the tsunami, Yuki had been unable to go to a gynecologist for a follow-up examination for the six weeks since she had given birth.

When Yuki heard about the Israeli medical aid delegation from friends in the population center and from media reports, she and her baby showed up at the IDF medical clinic.

She was examined by Lt. Col. Mishe Pincrat, a gynecologist with the IDF delegation who found Yuki to be in good and stable condition. After which, the baby was examined by Lt. Col. Dr. Amit Assa, a pediatrician from the delegation who concluded the baby to be healthy and in a general good condition.

Yuki, who deeply thanked the Israeli staff, and her baby were accompanied throughout the medical examination by Mora Tomoku, a local midwife who looks after all the pregnant women in the Minamisanriku area. Mora checks up on the women by visiting each individual woman’s home along with the gynecologist and midwife of the IDF aid delegation.

Since the arriving to Japan, the delegation doctors have treated 18 new mothers in follow-up examinations.

Previous posts about Israel’s field hospital in Japan:

• Deputy Japanese FM visits IDF medical clinic
• IDF aid delegation to Japan enjoys some sport with the kids
• Israeli field hospital in Japan getting results – treats homeless 11-month old tsunami victim
• Israeli field hospital in Japan already seeing patients
• Israeli field hospital for Japan readies for take off
• Israel first nation to set up field hospital in Japan

Deputy Japanese FM visits IDF medical clinic

''I was very impressed by the medical staff. Israelis have strong character and I was impressed by the orderly way that you operate.''

The IDF field hospital in tsunami-devastated Japan drew the attention of Deputy Japanese FM Makikio Kikuta. She stopped by to witness the good works Israel’s IDF is doing in an area where half the residents vanished into the sea.

She was particularly impressed by the medical services provided by the Israeli doctors, the children’s department, and the advanced equipment brought from Israel, like the X-ray equipment and computer system developed by the IDF Medical Corps, used for the first time by the IDF medical delegation in Haiti last year.

(For more background, see links to previous posts below.)

IDF Blog – Deputy Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Kikuta toured on Monday (Apr. 4) the IDF medical clinic in the city of Minami-Sanriko. During the visit, Kikuta said that she already recognized many members of the IDF medical delegation due to the wide media coverage the delegation has received on Japanese television broadcasts.

During the tour, conducted by Col. Dr. Ofir Cohen-Marom, the deputy Japanese FM was impressed by the medical services provided by the Israeli doctors as well as the advanced equipment brought from Israel. Kikuta said that the good relationship between Israel and Japan will be strengthened due to the arrival of the medical delegation.

“Your excellent work here, which was impossible to ignore in media reports throughout Japan, is very much appreciated by us and the Japanese people,” Kikuta said. “Your success and the cooperation that you have been able to establish with local medical officials will create an opening for additional delegations in the future.”

“I will be happy to help you as much as is needed in order to aid the citizens of the disaster area,” she continued. “I was very impressed by the medical staff. Israelis have strong character and I was impressed by the orderly way that you operate.”

During her visit, Kikuta was interested in learning about the patients who have come to the clinic and asked to hear about the medical issues they are facing as well as the care they are receiving. She expressed admiration for the children’s department and heard about the care that children are receiving. She also saw the X-ray equipment and computer system developed by the Medical Corps, which was used for the first time by the IDF medical delegation in Haiti last year.

Kikuta praised the Israeli medical team for being the first to offer aid to the Japanese people and promised to tell other Japanese government officials about what she saw during the visit.

Previous post about Israel’s field hospital in Japan:

• IDF aid delegation to Japan enjoys some sport with the kids
• Israeli field hospital in Japan getting results – treats homeless 11-month old tsunami victim
• Israeli field hospital in Japan already seeing patients
• Israeli field hospital for Japan readies for take off
• Israel first nation to set up field hospital in Japan

IDF aid delegation to Japan enjoys some sport with the kids

Israel was the first and only nation to open a fully-equipped field hospital in Japan. Here’s a video of some of the members taking a break from their duties to play with the local kids.

For more about the field hospital and the aid that Israel has sent to Japan, see the links below to previous postings.

 

 

IDF Blog – The IDF aid delegation to Japan takes a quick break to entertain the local children of Minamisanriku, who experienced deep losses from the recent tsunami and earthquake. Together with the children, the delegation members played a game in which the language is universal – soccer.

The game was held between an improvised team of IDF officers and the local children, and ended with a victory on both ends – the local youth’s spirits were lifted, while the officers received a quick break from their laborious efforts treating tsunami victims from the city, focusing instead on a fun-filled game.

In addition, IDF delegation members partook in recreational games and colored with the younger Japanese children.

Prior to and following the game, the IDF officers aided in transferring the area’s residents from the residential population aid centers to temporary houses until their old houses destroyed by the tsunami are completely rebuilt.

The Japan aid delegation of the IDF Home Front Command and the Medical Corps which consists of medical personnel, professionals in the field of civilian aid and logistics personnel, arrived on March 27th and is based out of Minamisanriku, an area which was heavily affected by the tsunami and where thousands are missing and displaced.

 

 

Previous post about Israel’s field hospital in Japan:

• Israeli field hospital in Japan getting results – treats homeless 11-month old tsunami victim
• Israeli field hospital in Japan already seeing patients
• Israeli field hospital for Japan readies for take off
• Israel first nation to set up field hospital in Japan

Japan’s luckiest dog found adrift at sea after 3 weeks

Calling Dr. Dolittle!

Wouldn’t you love to interview this little fella to learn about his ordeal and how he survived? What did he drink? Rainwater? What did he eat? Anything? He looks in pretty good shape.

If only they had found the doggie’s owner with him.

UK Daily Mail - It appears almost too good to be true, but this little dog has been found alive and well adrift at sea, an astonishing three weeks after the tsunami that devastated Japan.

Members of the Japan Coast Guard came across the dog on Friday as they were conducting an aerial search of the area.

Against all the odds, the dog appears to have survived by living in a partially submerged house that had been swept out to sea.

Local television showed showed pictures of the dog scampering around the roof of the house before it disappeared inside through a hole in the roof.

Rescuers had hoped to find more tsunami survivors living inside the house but after tearing the roof open, it was found to be empty apart from the dog.

Despite its three weeks at sea, the medium-sized brown dog seemed to be in reasonably good condition considering its ordeal.

 

Israeli field hospital in Japan getting results – treats homeless 11-month old tsunami victim

Israel’s newly opened field hospital in Japan (see links below) is staying busy.

Since its official opening this week, the hospital staffed with some 50 IDF doctors, nurses, and helpers have received numerous Japanese patients with a wide range of medical issues.

Among them was an 11-month old baby girl, whose house was destroyed in the tsunami. She was brought in by her grandmother.

IDF doctors treat 11-month old girl for an eye infection at the clinic in Minami-Sanriko.

The hospital provides the Japanese with pediatrics, internal and orthopedic medicine, a field X-ray lab, and a blood test lab. Along with the some 70 tons worth of humanitarian aid and medical equipment that the Israeli IDF team carried over to Japan, they also brought their own food, water, and other necessities so as not to tax the struggling communities which are seeing shortages in such things.

As with Haiti, Israel was the first country to get a fully-functional, high-grade clinic up and running.

IDF Blog – On Wednesday morning (Mar. 30), an 11-month old baby girl, whose house was destroyed in the tsunami, was brought in by her grandmother to the IDF medical clinic in Minami-Sanriko, Japan.

The girl was suffering from an eye infection. She was treated by pediatrician Lt. Col. Dr. Amit Assa and eye specialist Lt. Col. Orli Weinstein, with help from nurse Capt. Galit Bidner.

Numerous Japanese patients arrived at the clinic on Wednesday with a wide range of medical issues. The patients were treated by the professional Israeli medical team at the advanced clinic, with the help local Israelis serving as translators.

Also on Wednesday morning, the head of the Israeli delegation, Brig. Gen. Shalom Ben-Arieh, met with the district medical official and the local mayor.

IDF in Haiti

Previous post about Israel’s field hospital in Japan:

• Israeli field hospital in Japan already seeing patients
• Israeli field hospital for Japan readies for take off
• Israel first nation to set up field hospital in Japan

Israeli field hospital in Japan already seeing patients

As in the case of Haiti, Israel is once again the first nation to set up a field hospital in Japan’s disaster zone. Israeli expertise was on full display in Haiti back in January of 2010. Now, Israel is eager to help the Japanese in a way that few countries are capable of doing.

The IDF (Israeli Defense Force) officially opened the doors of its field hospital on Tuesday and began receiving patients. The clinic is situated just outside the devastated village of Minamisanriku in northern Japan.

Idfspokeperson writes that the opening ceremony was preceded by a minute of silence in honor of those who perished in the tsunami. During the ceremony the mayors of Kurihara and Minamisanriku thanked the members of the delegation for volunteering to help their ravaged towns, and for the IDF’s desire to help the people of Japan by providing medical care for the ill and injured.

IDF Field Clinic Openining - Moment of Silence for Victims of Japanese Disaster

The Israeli delegation brought their own food, water, and supplies so that they wouldn’t be a burden on the people of Japan. Ynet reports that they also brought 62 tons of medical equipment and 18 tons of humanitarian aid, including some 10,000 coats, 6,000 blankets, 8,000 gloves and 150 portable toilets.

The Japanese government set up the buildings beforehand, and 7 Hebrew-speaking Japanese will assist the team in translation. The 58-man team of doctors, nurses, and Home Front Command of the IDF Medical Corps is being housed at a nearby hotel.

IDF clinic in Japan

Here are some of the services that the medical team are providing:

 

• X-ray
• Pediatrics ward
• Surgical ward
• Maternity and Gynecological wards
• Otolaryngology (Ears, Nose and Throat)
• Optometry department
• Laboratory
• Intensive Care Unit
• Pharmacy

Setting up the field clinic

Israel Today – The Israeli army on Tuesday officially opened the doors of its field hospital in the devastated northern regions of Japan.

The clinic is situated just outside Minamisanriku, a village that was all but destroyed by the tsunami that followed the massive March 11 earthquake off Japan’s northeastern coast.

The facility includes surgical, pediatrics and maternity wards, an intensive care unit, a pharmacy and a laboratory. The buildings for the clinic were built by the Japanese government, and the 58-man IDF Medical Corps and Home Front Command team is being housed at a nearby hotel.

An Israeli officer speaks to a Japanese reporter

The Israelis brought along their own medical equipment and supplies, as well as their own food and water so as to not further tax the already-limited local resources. Also on hand are several officials from Israel Atomic Energy Commission to make sure radiation levels in the area do not get too high.

On Monday, several of the Israeli officers spoke to Japanese reporters asking them to publicize the opening of the clinic so that victims in the area know where to find assistance and treatment.

Israeli Ambassador to Japan Nissim Ben Shitreet thanked the Japanese authorities and volunteers on the ground for not only accepting Israel’s help, but assisting the set-up of the clinic.

“The Japanese people in the affected area went above and beyond to help us,” said Sheetrit. “The assistance of the Japenese from the moment the aid delegation landed in Japan has been exemplary.”

Japan’s Ambassador to Israel, Haruhisa Takeuchi, in turn delivered a heart-felt thank you to the medical delegation:

“I thank you, the crew of medical personnel, from the bottom of my heart, for volunteering to help in the aftermath of this tragedy and for carrying out this difficult mission.”

The ambassador also thanked the entire nation of Israel for standing so strongly by his nation:

“In this difficult hour, we will remember the warm and merciful embrace, the goodwill and the solidarity of the people of Israel. …Your support is a source of hope and encouragment.”

Video upon arrival:

 

ALSO, SEE UPDATE: Israeli field hospital in Japan getting results – treats homeless 11-month old tsunami victim

Incredible tsunami footage

You’ve seen a lot of tsunami videos over the past weeks, but maybe you haven’t seen this one. It must rank among the most awesome.

Watch as the sea builds and builds and sweeps everything away. Keep an eye on the building with the green roof as a marker for the sheer power and volume of water that pours inland. Look for it again at about 2:15. Same goes for the building inside the parking lot in front of the tall building. Amazing.

 

Israeli field hospital for Japan readies for take off

Israeli Field Hospital in Haiti

Earlier this week I reported about Israel being the first nation to set up a field hospital in catastrophy-wracked Japan. It is now being reported that two planes carrying 50 doctors and some 70 tons worth of humanitarian aid and medical equipment will depart from Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport on Saturday.

The Israeli clinic will provide the Japanese with pediatrics, internal and orthopedic medicine, a field X-ray lab, and a blood test lab.

Israel was also the first country to erect a state of the art field hospital in Haiti. See here for story and video. Will any of this good will cause Japan to pause in contemplation before it automatically sides with the Arabs in the next series of UN resolutions against Israel? Hah. Right.

Ynet News – Israeli mission to aid Japan crisis on its way: A medical delegation, including 50 doctors, is expected to fly from Ben-Gurion Airport on Saturday and head to Japan.

Israel will send two planes, one holding nearly 20 tons worth of humanitarian aid and the other full of 50 tons worth of medical equipment intended for an Israeli field clinic which will be established in the town of Minamisanriku.

“The view here is extremely harsh. Everything is destroyed. Nothing is left of this town,” IDF Home Front Medical Corps Commander, Colonel Dr. Ariel Bar, told Yediot Ahronot about the sights he had seen in the town.

“In this area alone there are about 10,000 homeless people. People sleep on the floor and seem unresponsive. They definitely need help and fast.”

The Israeli clinic will provide the Japanese with pediatrics, internal and orthopedic medicine. A field X-ray lab and a blood test lab will also be built on location.

“The Japanese think very highly of Israeli knowledge and especially our ability to act independently in the field,” said Bar. “When it comes to Japanese culture it’s not an easy thing to ask for help or admit their inability to do something. But this crisis is hard enough so that they do. They are grateful.”

Israel’s ambassador to Japan Nissim Ben Shitrit is the one in charge of contacts between local authorities. Director of the North East Asia Department of the MFA (Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Hagai Shagrir, is assisting Ben Shitrit from Israel.

“Not one building is left standing. Everything is in ruins,” said Bar. “Those who are still alive suffer from different diseases. That’s why we’re going to establish a field clinic and provide various medical services.”

After 9 days in rubble, Japanese grandmother and grandson rescued

Well here’s some cheering news in case you haven’t heard.

An 80-year-old grandmother and her 16-year-old grandson were rescued Sunday after being buried under rubble for 9 days.

‘Yo katta!’ as they say in Japanese.

It seems that they were trapped in their kitchen and lived on yogurt to survive. The grandmother was pinned under a refrigerator and the grandson had to dig his way out of the debris and onto the roof of the home, where he was able to alert rescuers.

Well, if you’re going to be trapped for 9-days in your home, it would seem that the kitchen would be the best place to be.

Fox -  An 80-year-old woman and her 16-year-old grandson were rescued Sunday after being buried under rubble for nine days after the worst earthquake in Japanese history and a massive tsunami toppled their home.

The two were trapped in their kitchen after the magnitude 9.0 temblor struck March 11 and survived by wrapping themselves in towels and eating yogurt and drinking, water, milk and Coke, Japanese news reports said.

Teenager Jin Abe eventually dug his way out of the debris onto the roof of the home, where he was able to alert rescuers. His grandmother, Sumi Abe, had been unable to free herself after her legs were wedged under the refrigerator.

Public broadcaster NHK showed a woman with glasses and curly gray hair wrapped in a blanket and surrounded by rescuers. Sumi Abe was able to say her name and to tell rescuers that she was unhurt. Jin Abe suffered hypothermiaand told doctors he had almost no feeling in his left leg.

The two were found in Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture, a city ravaged by last week’s tsunami.

The miraculous discovery comes as more and more victims are being recovered. The chance of survival so long after the pair of disasters is considered minuscule.

The official death toll as of Sunday evening stood at 8,199, with 12,722 missing, according to police.

Israel sends doctors, more aid to Japan

Israel is sending doctors and more aid for the victims of Japan’s horrendous earthquake and tsunamis.

Ynet News reports that a preliminary delegation of two doctors and a Home Front Command officer will leave to Japan Saturday night to look into the needs on the ground ahead of a larger delegation of doctors and medical equipment.

Israel already sent 100 Geiger counters to Japan, and 200 more will be sent next week after Japanese officials extended an urgent request for the radiation-monitoring devices

In addition, in the next few days, the Foreign and Defense Ministries will ship blankets, coats, gloves and portable toilets to the city of Kurihara, where survivors from the nearby town of Sendai have been transferred.

According to Ynet, Israel will be sending 20 different types of devices that would enable Japanese authorities to monitor radiation among civilians in contaminated areas. The counters will be handed over to forces operating in the area where nuclear plants are located.

The Geiger counters sent to Japan are produced by the radiation-monitoring unit at Rotem Industries. Its CEO, Dan Pe’er, said the unit is working intensively in order to supply the required devices as soon as possible.

A number of Jewish organizations are also extending helping hands to Japan. Below are some groups Jews might want to consider.

~ Ways to help victims ~ (h/t jweekly)

• S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation links to Jewish Federations of North America, or send checks to the Jewish Federations of North America, Wall Street Station, P.O. Box 148, New York, NY 10268

• Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay, or send checks to Attn: Japan/Pacific Emergency Relief, Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay, 300 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94610

• Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley

• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, or send checks to Attn: JDC, P.O. Box 530, 132 E. 43rd St., New York, NY 10017

• B’nai B’rith International, or send checks to B’nai B’rith International Disaster Relief Fund, Attn: Japan Earthquake, 2020 K St. NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20006

• Chabad of Japan, is taking donations to offset the cost of deliveries of food and supplies that are under way. Also, donors can e-mail with their credit card number or request information on a direct bank transfer.

• Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, or send checks to JDC — Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 530, 132 E. 43rd St., New York, NY 10017

• Orthodox Union, or send checks to Orthodox Union, 11 Broadway, 14th floor, New York, NY 10004 with “OU Earthquake Emergency Fund” in the memo line.

Or, help both Israel and Japan by contributing to the excellent first-responder team, ZAKA.

* ALSO, SEE UPDATE: Israeli field hospital in Japan getting results – treats homeless 11-month old tsunami victim

Earthquake liquefaction in a Tokyo park

Some astonishing footage that was taken during the Sendai earthquake. It shows in real time what is called ‘liquefaction’ in a Tokyo park. It is pretty freaky-looking. Watch beyond the first minute to see how the earth yawns open, gurgles up water, and fissures infiltrate the park turning it into a kind of marsh.

Loyal Japanese dog sticks with poochy friend

The horror show that has become Japan is filled with so much sadness and sorrow that it’s impossible to wrap one’s head around it. People, however, are not the only ones feeling at a loss.

If you haven’t seen it, here’s a loyal dog looking out for his injured poochy tomodachi (friend). It’s very touching, as the dog is disoriented, shivering, and probably hungry and cold.

Digital Journal says that ABC reported that a news crew from Fuji TV came across the dogs lying among the rubble in Mito, Ibarak, on Japan’s eastern coast. At first it was feared that one of the dogs might be dead. Rescuers were contacted but it took about an hour before they could separate the two buddies.

The good news is that both dogs are reported to have been rescued and are receiving care. Kenn Sakurai, the president of a Japanese pet food company and doing his part in helping with the rescue of animals, reports on his Facebook page:

Kenn Sakurai

“Those two dogs are rescued. The one which came close to the camera is in the better condition. The other White, Gray and Black was weak. So it is in the vet clinic in Ibaraki Prefectre. The other dog is in the shelter of the same area.”

Here‘s an English translation of the camera crew’s words upon discovering the pair (h/t Yahoo):

We are in Arahama area. Looks like there is a dog. There is a dog. He looks tired and dirty. He must have been caught in the tsunami. He looks very dirty.

He has a collar. He must be someone’s pet. He has a silver collar. He is shaking. He seems very afraid.

Oh, there is another dog. I wonder if he is dead.

Where?

Right there. There is another dog right next to the one sitting down. He is not moving. I wonder. I wonder if he is alright.

The dog is protecting him.

Yes. He is protecting the dog. That is why he did not want us to approach them. He was trying to keep us at bay.

I can’t watch this. This is a very difficult to watch.

Oh. Look. He is moving. He is alive. I am so happy to see that he is alive.

Yes! Yes! He is alive.

He looks to be weakened. We need to them to be rescued soon. We really want them rescued soon.

Oh good. He’s getting up.

For animal lovers looking to help Japan’s pet population, you can turn to Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support, a coalition of groups that have been rescuing and re-homing animals in Japan for many years, or their Facebook page..

Global Animal also has information, photos, and links to organizations in Japan involved in pet rescue work.

Or just click here to donate to Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support.

Japanese nightmare refuses to lift

The news out of Japan can’t seem to turn a corner from the gloomy path it has been on for the past week. The dead bodies and tales of woe continue to pile up. There are too many stories to recount, and all of them are easily accessible on the internet, or on TV.

The news about possible or likely nuclear meltdowns is beyond my commenting. One can find stories predicting the worst, and others saying the threat is overblown by the media. I lean towards the latter, but pray for the best. I really don’t know.

Below are some images and video that you might not have seen.

Here’s a video that almost places you right at the action. The roaring power of the tsunami as it captures and destroys the town is almost palpable. (h/t Hotair)

Here are a few astounding photos. (h/t Hotairpundit)

Good grief!

Japan’s nightmare continues to darken – Shinmoe volcano erupts

Heartbreaking news continues emerge from my old stomping ground, Japan.

Almost as an exclamation point, there is now news of a volcano erupting on the island of Kyushu in Southern Japan, shooting hell 2 1/2 miles into the air. I wrote about this volcano back on January 29th.

Today’s breaking story:

Digital Journal – A volcano located at the southern region of Japan has been reported by the Meteorological Agency to be spewing rock and ashes on Sunday.

Mt. Shinmoe-dake erupted after being silent for over two weeks. The most recent eruption released a pillar of rock, ash and volcanic debris two and a half miles high into the air.

Level three warnings have already been issued within the immediate and surrounding areas of the volcano. Authorities have also restricted access to the mountain, which is located in the Kirishima range in the island of Kyushu.

I can’t find any video yet of today’s eruption, however, to get an idea, here is the same volcano in January. I hope and pray that today’s eruption is no bigger than this, because as you can see, it was quite impressive.

You have likely seen lots of stunning video on Japan’s history-making nightmare, but here are a couple of reels that you might have missed. They are among the most shocking I’ve seen so far.

In this one you can see the devastating power of the tsunami build and build as it engulfs the town. It’s really astounding.

This one is more general, but the different footage captures the power of the tsunami very well.

There are some bitter-sweet stories that are emerging. The UK Guardian tells of a 60-year old tsunami survivor found clinging to a section of the roof of his house – 10 miles out at sea! The man had been drifting for 2 days.

 

 

UK Guardian –  A 60-year-old man has been found on the roof of his floating house nearly 10 miles out at sea, two days after the tsunami that devastated the north-east coast of Japan.

Hiromitsu Shinkawa must have resigned himself to his fate when he was swept away by the retreating tsunami that roared ashore in his home town of Minami Soma in Fukushima prefecture

As the wave approached, Shinkawa took the fateful decision to return home to collect belongings. Minutes later he was out at sea clinging to a piece of the roof from his own home.

Incredibly, he was spotted by a maritime self-defence force destroyer taking part in the rescue effort as he clung to the wreckage with one hand and waved a self-made red flag with the other. He had been at sea for two days.

Reports said that on being handed a drink aboard the rescue boat, Shinkawa gulped it down and immediately burst into tears. His wife, with whom he had returned home as the tsunami approached, is still missing.

He was quoted as saying: “No helicopters or boats that came nearby noticed me. I thought that day was going to be the last day of my life.”

Officials said Shinkawa was in good condition after being taken to hospital by helicopter.

“I ran away after I heard a tsunami was coming,” he told Jiji Press. “But I turned back to fetch something from home and was swept away. I was rescued while hanging on to the roof of my house.”

The self-defence forces said the good weather and calm waters had allowed Shinkawa to stay alive during his 48-hour drift.

Israel sends ZAKA aid team to Japan

Different Israeli and Jewish aid groups are on their way to Japan to lend their expertise. Top among them is ZAKA, the Israeli group of first responders and search and rescue.

ZAKA International Rescue Unit has assisted at natural disasters around the world, including Haiti, the first Israeli delegation to arrive on the scene, the tsunami in Thailand and the hurricane in New Orleans.

ZAKA, founded in 1995, is Israel’s dominant non-governmental lifesaving, rescue and recovery organisation, with over 1500 volunteers, 34 ambulances and 162 motorcycles deployed around the country, on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to respond to any terror attack, disaster or accident immediately, professionally and with the necessary equipment.

ZAKA, which is perhaps best known for its sacred work in collecting human remains to ensure a proper Jewish burial, is also active in the fields of emergency response (using motorcycles equipped with first aid and fire-fighting equipment), search and rescue (including specialist canine, divers and rappelling units) and accident prevention.

IsraAID-FIRST, an Israeli umbrella group of relief organizations, is also preparing to send a team of experts to the island nation to assist in relief efforts. “We’ve been looking past few hours at the damage and the needs,” IsrarAID head Shahar Zehavi said. “Our main agenda is to send a delegation of earthquakes specialists and water purification experts to the region.”

Another group involved in aid is the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), who, on Friday announced it was collecting funds for relief efforts and has reached out to the Japanese Government to offer its expertise in earthquake and tsunami-related response.

To donate to ZAKA, go here.

Haaretz –  ZAKA International Rescue Unit said Friday it will send a team of trained volunteers from Israel to help the search and rescue efforts in Japan, following the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that rocked the country earlier that day.

Following a consultation with the Israeli Foreign Ministry and with emissaries from the Chabad organization in Japan, ZAKA arranged to send a team headed by the organization’s co-directors Mati Goldstein and Dovi Maisel, on Saturday evening (after the conclusion of the Sabbath).

The ZAKA International Rescue Unit volunteers will be met by the Israel Ambassador to Japan Nissim Ben Sheetrit. The specially trained ZAKA volunteers will join the international search and rescue efforts in an effort to save as many lives as possible.In addition, another team from the ZAKA International Rescue Unit based in Hong Kong will leave for the quake area after the conclusion of the Sabbath in their region.

The UN-recognized, Israel-based ZAKA International Rescue Unit has assisted at natural disasters around the world, including Haiti, the first Israeli delegation to arrive on the scene, the tsunami in Thailand and the hurricane in New Orleans.

In addition to ZAKA, a number of Jewish organizations from Israel and America offered their assistance on Friday.

According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, IsraAid, an Israel-based coordinating organization for 17 Israeli and Jewish humanitarian groups, said Friday that it has two teams of rescue personnel, emergency medical officers and water pollution specialists ready to deploy to Japan but was looking for ways to reach the affected area.

Airports in the affected area are flooded and Tokyo-area airports closed on Friday, so IsraAid said it was exploring the possibility of flying to a nearby country and then trying to make it to northeast Japan, the JTA reported.

The JTA also said the Chabad-Lubavitch movement reported that its emissary in Tokyo said the Jewish community there largely was spared any serious injury or damage from earthquake.

The Japanese consul in Israel, Mitoshiko Shinomya, told the Israeli news website Ynet that he was heartened by the Israeli government’s offer of assistance. “Israel officially offered its help an hour after the earthquake struck,” Shinomya said. “It is very heart-warming, but at this point we do not know exactly what the extent of the damage is, so it is difficult for us to say what can be done.”

According to the JTA, the Jewish Federations of North America is setting up an emergency relief fund to help those in affected areas, and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a federation partner, opened a mailbox Friday for donations to be used for Japan/Pacific disaster relief. Donations can be made at https://jdc.org/donation/donate.aspx.

“JDC is now conducting an up-to-the-minute assessment of the situation in Japan and the Pacific Rim and has activated its network of partners to determine critical, immediate needs of the hardest-hit areas,” the organization said in a statement Friday.

Japan earthquake

I felt many, many earthquakes during my long stretch in Japan, but never one that lasted nearly this long. Usually, they last a few seeming very long seconds. But the one Japan experienced today looks as if kept going and going. Watch this footage captured live.

Long, hard, frightening and sad days ahead for Japan.

8.9 earthquake triggers massive tsunami in Japan

News of a massive 8.9 earthquake and tsunami is now crossing the wires. The quake triggered a 23-foot (7-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland.

(Video below)

It’s a monster one, with more after shocks expected.

MSN reports: ‘The quake triggered problems with a cooling system at a power plant, officials said, prompting the “emergency,” but the officials maintained that no radiation had leaked. A fire was reportedly burning in a turbine building at the plant.

Fires triggered by the quake burned out of control up and down the coast.’

Washington Times – TOKYO (AP) — A powerful tsunami spawned by the largest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people as widespread fires burned out of control. Tsunami warnings blanketed the entire Pacific, as far away as South America,Canada, Alaska and the entire U.S. West Coast.

Authorities said at least 32 people were killed. The magnitude 8.9 offshore quake was followed by at least 19 aftershocks, most of them of more than magnitude 6.0. Dozens of cities and villages along a 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the epicenter.

A utility company in northeastern Japan reported a fire in a turbine building of nuclear power plant.

“The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern Japan,” Prime Minister Naoto Kan said at a news conference.

Even for a country used to earthquakes, this one was of horrific proportions. It unleashed a 23-foot (7-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland.

Large fishing boats and other sea vessels rode high waves into the cities, slamming against overpasses. Upturned and partially submerged vehicles were seen bobbing in the water.

Waves of muddy waters swept over farmland near the city of Sendai, carrying buildings, some on fire, inland as cars attempted to drive away. Sendai airport, north of Tokyo, was inundated with cars, trucks, buses and thick mud deposited over its runways. Fires spread through a section of the city, public broadcasterNHK reported.

The tsunami roared over embankments, washing anything in its path inland before reversing directions and carrying the cars, homes and other debris out to sea. Flames shot from some of the houses, probably because of burst gas pipes.

Oh man. Or as we say in Japan – Yabai!

Click here for video coverage from AP.

Japanese volcano reawakens after 52 years

Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, and the rest of the Middle East can’t match the rumblings and explosions happening in Japan.

Mt. Shinmoe on the Southern Japanese Island of Kyushu is belching up ash and debris, and keeping nearby residents rubbing their eyes and on their toes.

Rocks were blasted as far as 8 km from Kirishima’s Shinmoedake peak, according to the Meteorological Agency.

The Japan Times reports that ash is falling on a wide area that includes the cities of Miyazaki and Nichinan in Miyazaki Prefecture, and has partially closed expressways in Kyushu

According to Ouramazingplanet.com, Kirishima ejected volcanic bombs — lava fragments that are rounded as they fly through the air — more than a mile (2 kilometers) high from its vent, according to news reports.

Images of the eruption show plumes of glowing material shooting a few hundred feet in the air. Kirishima technically refers to a larger group of volcanic vents on the island. These vents are quite active but mostly have small explosive eruptions.

Eurasia Review

A volcano in southwestern Japan continued erupting Friday, disrupting transportation services and covering fields in nearby cities with ash.

The latest eruption of Mt. Shinmoe on the Southern Japanese Island of Kyushu spewed heavy clouds of smoke up to more than 1,000 meters, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The volcano, which lies in a mountain range that straddles Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures, began erupting on Wednesday for the first time in 52 years.

A local observatory in Kagoshima said the volcanic activity may intensify, warning of large volcanic stones blowing out of the crater. Volcanic tremors indicating underground magma activities also continued Friday.

Following the Wednesday’s eruption, the first since 1959, the weather agency raised the volcanic alert to level 3 to warn people to clear the areas within 2 km radius of the volcano’s crater as its ash continued.

Study: Japanese men not as horny as they used to be

Are Japanese men going blind? Having lived many years in Japan, I can assure you that if Japanese men are losing interest in sex, it’s not because the women aren’t attractive.

The British website, Metro, reports that over a third of Japanese men aged between 16 and 19 are not interested in sex, according to a survey conducted by the Japanese government.

This is a strange story, but, then again, Japan is rife with odd stories. I find the study a little hard to swallow, but that something disconcerting is going on with Japanese youth is, unfortunately, obvious to anyone who spent a long time there. Mention ‘today’s youth’ to an older Japanese person and he or she will most always sigh and shake his head in disappointment.

Japan is a truly wonderful country – beautiful, modern, infinitely interesting, rich in history, and wacky. It is also one of the biggest victims of the new normal. The Japanese youth of today lack their parents and grandparents’ appreciation for the struggles and obstacles overcome in the post-war years. They are spoiled, like many in the West, and suffer a major identity crisis. They don’t know who they are or where they belong in the scheme of things. They worship pop culture and easily lose themselves in the myriad of distractions that an affluent society like Japan affords.

The same could be said, of course, for most successful countries today, but with Japan’s advanced demographic – it is the oldest society in the world, geriatricly speaking - the saturnine, even nihilistic zeitgeist that many of the younger generation floats in, adds to Japan’s myriad of long-term social and economic problems.

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Kon nichi wa. Genki, kana...

Metro via Hotair > With Japan’s rate of birth far below the average needed for a strong and stable population, a survey was issued by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare which aimed to figure out what the issue was.

The findings show that out of the 671 men and 869 women studied, 35.1% of young men, between 16 and 19 years of age, said they weren’t interested in sex.

That figure has worryingly doubled since the last study, in 2008, which showed that 17.5% had no interest in intercourse or were averse to it.

For a leading doctor in Japan, the study’s result showed why the birth rate in Japan was declining – the Japanese are not having enough sex.

Dr. Kunio Kitmura, head of the Japan Family Planning Association, told The Daily Telegraph: ‘Obviously, the most important reason for Japan’s declining birth rate is that people are not having sex.

‘Combined with the rising number of elderly people, this population imbalance is a major problem.’

The problem doesn’t just concern singletons, with many Japanese married couples classed as ‘sexless’, as they have been without sexual intercourse for over a month.

40.8% of married couples surveyed revealed that they were ‘sexless’, up 4.3% from the last survey.

the whole humiliating thing >>>