<p><i really=“” should=“” not=“” be=“” laughing=“” at=“” how=“” the=“” cc=“” automatic=“” censoring=“” is=“” changing=“” name=“” of=“” japanese=“” city=“” where=“” nuclear=“” power=“” plants=“” are=“” located.=“” i’m=“” sorry.=“” but=“” i=“” do=“” think=“” it’s=“” hilarious.=“”></i></p><i really=“” should=“” not=“” be=“” laughing=“” at=“” how=“” the=“” cc=“” automatic=“” censoring=“” is=“” changing=“” name=“” of=“” japanese=“” city=“” where=“” nuclear=“” power=“” plants=“” are=“” located.=“” i’m=“” sorry.=“” but=“” i=“” do=“” think=“” it’s=“” hilarious.=“”>
</i>
<p>Oh man, I just noticed that.</p>
<p>I used to have problems with my old city of Fu.kuoka in the old days. Sigh.</p>
<p>What do you all think about sending a college student on exchange to Tokyo in September?</p>
<p>I see no problem with it whatsoever.</p>
<p>If Kobe is any indication, recovery will be swift. Honestly, even amidst all this madness, Tokyo is still probably one of the safest places in the world to be at any given moment.</p>
<p>Worst case scenario is that some of the infrastructure remains in reduced condition. My boss is going back to Japan soon, and is saying that he’s hearing that buses are running late, and that food is a bit scarcer than usual in Tokyo.</p>
<p>Tokyo has been mostly spared, however. It should still be a fun experience being there.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input–I’ve been feeling optimistic that studying in Tokyo would be OK by Sept., but wondered if I was being unrealistic…</p>
<p>NWMom,</p>
<p>If it makes you feel any better (worse?), he’ll get more radiation from the flight to Tokyo than he’d possibly get being in Tokyo even right now. </p>
<p>Don’t let fear or tinfoilers get in his way to have the chance of a lifetime. Studying and living in Japan has changed my life in ways I cannot begin to describe.</p>
<p>My SIL is still considering the postdoc in Yokohama. Besides wondering if the job is a good fit, now they have these other worries. They have a toddler also, so they’re not only thinking of themselves.</p>
<p>NWMom,</p>
<p>Although I’m relieved DS is back at school in US, I have to agree with UCLAri. My worries over this past weekend were based on disrupted communication and transportation in Tokyo. Was difficult listening to the news and not being able to get messages from DS. I am confident this will be sorted out soon. DS is trying to figure out a way to go back in May and DH and I are okay with that. Your son will have an amazing year!</p>
<p>Son just called from Japan as he was walking out of an assembly for his study abroad program in Kyoto. They announced they are closing the program next week; arrangements to get everyone out of there and back to the US aren’t clear at the moment. We are both upset and relieved.</p>
<p>I suspect a lot of programs will be closing simply because life is going to be hard in Japan for the next few months. </p>
<p>I doubt that anyone will be in much danger in a place like Kyoto, but with the state of the infrastructure and supply chains, it makes sense to get out if you can.</p>
<p>Alas, the other 100 million people there cannot leave. It is their home.</p>
<p>"I suspect a lot of programs will be closing simply because life is going to be hard in Japan for the next few months. "
I think it will be more than a few years, not months, before Japan is back on its feet. If the cores in the 4 nuclear reactors melt down, as they appear close to doing, there will millions of lives disrupted for decades to come . Chernobyl’s disaster involved only 1 reactor- this involves 4. The cost to deal with damage from a large scale nuclear disaster, as well as the costs of rebuilding and repairing so many area that were completely devastated from the tsunami is going to require hundreds of billions of yen that the Japanese government simply does not have to spend.</p>
<p>California State University is evacuating its students and suspending its study abroad program in Japan. All of Stanford’s students are coming home after being offered the option. UC is looking closely at the situation, but hasn’t yet made a decision.</p>
<p>Yes, the nuclear plants that were affected are definitely unusable (as confirmed by numerous sources) and there is no backup means of power for the places these plants served. It will take time to build whatever power will be used to replace these damaged plants. It will take time, resources and money to rebuild the many other parts of Japan devastated by recent events, though Japan is very resourceful and will persevere. </p>
<p>It does make sense that the Us are evacuating foreign students so they do not contribute to those requiring supplies and taking shelter that could be used by numerous displaced and currently needy people of Japan.</p>
<p>Menloparkmom,</p>
<p>The bright side (if there is one) is that more reactors going doesn’t necessarily mean “worse.” Comparisons to Chernobyl are still quite premature: [Fukushima</a> Vs. Three Mile Island Vs. Chernobyl - Forbes.com](<a href=“http://www.forbes.com/2011/03/16/japan-disaster-nuclear-opinions-roubini-economics.html]Fukushima”>Fukushima Vs. Three Mile Island Vs. Chernobyl)</p>
<p>Yes, the total recovery is in years, but being safe and relatively secure in Japan will be measured in months.</p>
<p>^^ I hope you’re right but fear you’re wrong…</p>
<p>Well, for one, comparisons to Chernobyl fall flat for engineering and scientific reasons. Chernobyl was a mess of a design that, despite F.ukushima’s shortcomings, is not being seen here.</p>
<p>The biggest advantage that Japan has right now is a huge domestic infrastructure industry that is very well-established.</p>
<p>If you ever had a canine friend, this will make you cry:</p>
<p>[Dog</a> in Japan stays by the side of its ailing friend in the rubble - Yahoo! News](<a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/dog-in-japan-stays-by-the-side-of-its-ailing-friend-in-the-rubble]Dog”>http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/dog-in-japan-stays-by-the-side-of-its-ailing-friend-in-the-rubble)</p>
<p>Oh, how heart-rendering.</p>
<p>I saw that video last night, courtesy of the wife unit. I’m glad that it seems that both of those pooches made it out okay.</p>
<p>The current situation is far more dangerous in Japan than it was in Chernobyl. The fuel used at F,ukushima is a mixed Uranium and Plutonium, partially obtained from the former USSR, as the result of nuke disarmament program. I am not sure I trust the Japanese government and its system. Just look at the fact that soldiers refusing to drop water over reactor 3 two days ago. If it were not for these 50 men, stating in their ground and keeping it cooled with water hoses, the thing would have been gone already.</p>