Hasta La Gadget!

With over 550,000 people either displaced or evacuated from their homes as a result of the disasters in Northern japan, the search for shelter is a huge task. One possible answer however is Japan’s innovative Dome House. Able to be constructed in just 3 hours, with the worlds highest resistance to earthquakes, ultra low cost and highly efficient thermal properties make it a perfect solution to the current crisis.

Made form an expanded polystyrene material the weight of each section is extremely lightweight and a fantastic insulator. With the cold weather and purported summer blackouts the fact that the material could cut heating and cooling costs by as much as 50-60% would be a huge bonus. While many suffer in shelters and cramped conditions already, the ability to assemble and erect a town of the igloo shaped structures in a matter of weeks could be hugely beneficial. Along with constant aftershocks and new earthquakes the structures strength would provide comfort to many along with the flame retardant properties.

As you’ve seen in the foreign press, all of Japan is starving and the condition is really terrible on the ground. See this gallery of horrible Tokyo panic photos to see what I mean. Tokyo Dandy has an even crazier view from street level.

Today the reality of our dire situation hit me the hardest. Viron was out of the pâté de campagne, so I was FORCED to settle for the poulet rôti for lunch.

It’s a nightmare out there people. Get out of Tokyo NOW before you find yourselves eating at Subway. Look at this bakery! Do you see a single baguette? No! I had to wait TEN MINUTES for them to finish baking them fresh in the back.

As you can see below, there’s a serious shortage of thon crudités and mozzarella.

Until France steps it up, moves out of their wimp-cave in Osaka, and starts supplying more sandwich aid, the real human toll of the disaster in Tokyo is only going to grow larger. We might even be drinking tap water once it all goes down.

SERIOUSLY
Right now, Tokyo is doing fine. Lots of people were out and about today, and the “shortages” of food and supplies are laughable to any older person here who experienced bombing of civilians by the United States during the war. Hang in there, and remember that there are a whole lot of people worse off than you just 150 miles north. Help them out through the charity of your choice. Better yet, go there yourself, bring money and supplies, and help them rebuild. That’s our plan.

In the meantime, check out this post on the growing food shortage in Tokyo. No beer? For a couple of days?? I’ll go nuts!! Also, TokyoCooney is keeping track of the dessert front.

Koji Toyama of Farmonte Design, and photographer “RIP”, decided to get together with some locals to express support in the only way those of use with limited options can really do. Words and good vibrations.

The signs encourage Japan to ganbaru, meaning to persevere. Hard to argue with that.

In the meantime, Life Goes On.

**Read Part 1 “Life Continues in Tokyo**

Smiles, laughter, sunshine, children playing, ladies chatting…..not the scenes you immediately imagine just 3 days after one of the worlds biggest earthquakes, tsunami, and ensuing nuclear instability struck Japan.

Kids play in the park.

However walking about the neighbourhood today that was exactly what I was met by. Despite the troubles and constant aftershocks people are going about their daily business with an amazing resilience. In the North of Japan things are obviously significantly different, but in and around the capital life goes on, shaken but by no means down. In a world where the media works hard to capture an ever demanding audience by sensationalising journalism by focusing on images of disaster and catastrophe, it is easy to loose track of what is also happening unreported.

A shop has plenty of vegetables in stalk (hahaha!)

Chatting to the locals in Chiba Prefecture there is a distinct air of determination, of a town determined to try their best to get things as near to normal as possible. Already work is underway to clear up the damage, the pride showing through to get the area back to its orderly best again.

Park staff smile while inspecting the grounds as a woman navigates the debris on her bicycle.

People go for hair cuts, cashiers smile at customers, friends meet over coffee, and children play as hard as the workers fixing the pavements. Whilst of course we do not underestimate the incredible loss experienced in the North of the country for which our greatest sympathies are extended. It is also important to see positive Japan, the unreported japan, the one that is filled with determination, with smiles shining through despite the hardships and a fantastic resilience to continue life apace.

Customers relax in a cafe with friends

Commuters wait for their bus into the city.

Kids playing in the schoolyard.

Construction unrelated to the earthquake continues at it’s usual, leisurely pace.

Hair is cut and curled.

A couple browses for a vacation (or quick getaway) to Hawaii.

**Read Part 1 “Life Continues in Tokyo**

Tsutaya and its parent company Culture Convenience Club yesterday began to offer a service where consumers’ loyalty points can be used as donations to the earthquake relief funds needed due to the catastrophe that has afflicted north-east Japan.

This follows other gestures by mobile phone companies like Softbank offering free wi-fi, and NTT allowing its payphones to be used for free when the quake and tsunami struck on Friday afternoon.

The T-Points donation is an effective system that means you can contribute in a tangible way with “money” you might not even have used and in a way that means you don’t have to hand over cash to someone.

At time of writing, since the service began on March 12th there have been over 54,000 conversions-donations and an accumulated total of nearly 22 million points.

T-Points is the biggest loyalty points system in Japan, spearheaded by Tsutaya, a massive DVD and game rental store. With your T-Card you can collect, save and use points (1 point = 1 yen) at 69 affiliated chains, including FamilyMart convenience store and ENEOS gasoline stands. As of September 2010 there are 36.08 million T-Card holders, usable at 34,780 outlets.

The T-Points Charity service overall started in 2007 and is associated with unicef, the Japan Red Cross Society and other smaller regional non-profit projects.

At least some other similar points conversion donation schemes have been set up, including Hatena and online shopping site EC Navi.

Tsutaya’s points conversion period for the earthquake funds is currently set to run until the end of April, though it may well be extended given the unprecedented level of destruction we are seeing on our TV screens here.

Also, at present you have to be a registered member of Tsutaya’s online services and log in to convert your T-Points. This is a slightly irksome task for the more casual consumer (like me) and I wouldn’t be surprised if Tsutaya and other affiliates offer people the chance to convert points to donations at the retail counter, in the same way staff usually ask you if you want to use or save your points.