March 11th 2011 Earthquake - Image by Damon Coulter
It’s been an strange day. Spent a lot of time switching between BBC World and CNN on the TV and various news sites on the web. I saw the images coming in from photographers and journalist friends based in Tokyo, many of whom are now heading north to Sendai. I wish all the best to those who are going out to cover the disaster. Stay safe.
The above photograph by my friend Damon Coulter shows a scene from Tokyo just after the quake. It is not an image of chaos or carnage, but a man putting his training into action. Japan is well aware it lies in an earthquake zone, and the precautions taken with regards to building design, planning and training mean things are much better than they could have been.
I put up yesterday’s post with images of the tsunami’s effect on Okinawa hoping that it would be of interest to a few of my blog readers. The tsunami clearly didn’t have a large impact on Okinawa. The ocean appeared to go from high to low tide and back to high tide over a matter of minutes, but there were no injuries or damage to my knowledge. It became clear, however, that a large number of people outside Okinawa didn’t have any information about what was happening on the island. The result was that over the last 24 hours more than 20,000 people found their way to my blog. It was great that the forum of concerned friends, parents and grandparents that commented on the post were able to reassure others who were worried about people living on Okinawa. (To the person who tried to post that he wished Okinawa and the expletive people living on it had been covered by water – please seek counseling you clearly have some issues you need to deal with.)
Some of my friends in the US military on Okinawa will now be part of the humanitarian mission to help people affected by the tsunami. The presence of American military bases in Japan and particularly Okinawa is a complex and often contentious issue, but right now the availability of US planes, helicopters and manpower must be seen as a blessing. Good luck to all those heading up to the mainland to help, and once again stay safe.
Finally, thanks to all of my friends and family who were concerned about my wellbeing. My thoughts go out to the people of Sendai, and those who have received tragic news or are going through the agonizing experience of simply waiting by the phone.
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 
Thank you for your staus post on Okinawa after the Quake, and tsunami. My daughter and grandchildren are there with my son in-law who is in the service.
Glad to hear that you’re alright! And help seems to be rallying from all over the world – even a Swedish C-130, filled with experts, is on standby, if they are needed. As yet Japanese authorities claim their help from the US, Australia and neibouring countries will suffice!
For something entirely different: Bought a Think Tank Airport today, for my upcoming trips abroad. It is according to Adorama ‘The Airport Takeoff bag is the new standard in a rolling camera backpack. Think Tank Photo has designed a transportation solution that combines the portability*.
So you can pretend your an old man (which I am) going shopping with his trolley bag, but in reality you’re bringing all your camera stuff along to get the best shots ever! It is big enough for my fours SLRs (all with lenses attached), one 70-200, one 400, ans a multitude of minor stuff, like a flash, or two, a 90mm Macro, a wide angle, and a handful more lenses!
Bought mine locally, for about $500 US dollars, but online it is much cheaper (at least 40% less!). It comes with beefy shoulder straps (that hide away behind a huge flap) when not in use, so you can instantly convert it to a back-pack, if you tire to pull it behind you with its collapsable handle. And it is made so that you can carry a sturdy tripod on its side – very securely, I hasten to add – or a hefty monopod.
Seems to be built to last a lifetime, bar the collapsable handle that feels a bit flimsy! But I could well be wrong here – I’ve been that before ;-)!
Hope to meet you one day!
Tord
Thank you so much for news of tsuanmi on Okinawa. Friends there we have been unable to get a hold of and little in the British or US news about the Ryuku islands in this disaster in general. Owe you one. If you find yourself in Milwaukee or Lake Geneva, WI send me an email and we’ll buy you a beer!
Ann Blackburn
Shortly after the earthquake first hit, I was watching the Japanese news and saw all of Okinawa Pref highlighted in bright red – not just the coasts, but the entire islands – as tsunami danger zones, or whatever term it was they used. I have only been to Okinawa once, for a very brief stay, so I cannot say that I really appreciate how large or small the islands are, but I get the impression they’re quite small, and quite flat. So I was rather worried. What do you do when your entire island is in the evac zone, and there is no higher ground (unlike here at the U of Hawaii, which is located in the higher ground)?
So I’m quite glad to hear that there was no real event in Okinawa. The images from Tohoku are rather upsetting, however, and of course I hope the best for people up there struggling to get through this.
Chris: I’m adding your excellent Okinawa blog to the Torii Station Facebook page. That page is currently liked by over 600 regular visitors, some of whom are still in Okinawa and others who were stationed there. I was Army garrison manager in Okinawa from October 2002 until my retirement on October 2007.
Ken Spink
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Torii-Station
We also spent the day switching between various local TV channels, and whatever we could find on the internet!
Sweden is not in a major earthquake zone, rather the reverse, but once in a century (or so) there is a big one – so nothing I ever have experienced! Last time the epicenter was somewhere out at sea, with Oslo, in Norway mostly affected. But the churchbells here rang from the vibrations, and the streets became filled of people praving for their salvation, as they thought the days of recogning were here!
The south-eastern parts of Sweden (southwest of Stockholm) has an occasional one, just big enough to be felt, but enough to make things on walls fall down!
Life is very fickle; for a while we are here and then, poof, we’re gone! We are here for a while, and some of us leave a trace, but most of us nearly nothing.
So my philosophy (after having had more than a few close encounters with death) is to enjoy the time I have – just now I enjoy photography!
Here is a report from a Japanese friend in Osaka, about her father-in-law who lives in the affected area.
This is “ANN head line news live from Japan”
Jin’s Dad alives! Thank you for asking. Jin spoke to dad in very early morning, because another M7 quake at 4am
in North Gumma where dad lives, very close to famous Naeba ski resort. Dad says he still alives and everyone he knows in his town are okay.But it was the biggest quake he ever experienced in his life. I am so relieved to know Jin’s dad is okay.
US announced yesterday that aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan was in the pacific, and now coming to Japan, and another ship would come from Sasebo base, but they haven’t arrived yet. Another 150 US special rescue people will arrive in Yokota tomorrow. Singapore team had arrived yesterday. It is very sure that this is the biggest disaster Japan ever had.
As you heard 9,500 people are missing from a village. I hope this terrible news is wrong, but that village picture shows…nothing but all mud.
90 people atomic-victim, they are patients and staff of the hospital locate 3.5km away from that nuclear power plant.
Four trains are missing. They were running at that time. No answer from the train conductors.
Snowing there, but still no electricity and water and gas in most area.
I am glad to hear that you say I tell you everything in beautiful way. Wow, love to hear it. It means my very funny English became little less funny! Learning.
One more important news; Tokyo Disney Resort will be closed until March 21st. …….?
More to follow.
Reported by Aki !
Terrible update from Aki: Entire towns washed away! And those trains still missing!
The scale of the catastrophy is just stunning!
I hate nuclear reactors – there is one downwind from here!
No new snow here today, but a little fog, and birds singing in the tops of the trees!
Tord
PS Just updated my k-5’s firmware, so will try it out ASAP!
Chris, you know there is an update for your 645D, too?!
I know quite a few of the US military forces are ready to head to the area and offer assistance, but have not been allowed to do so yet. The USS Ronald Reagan is only going to be used for Japanese helicopters to refuel, and not for their own relief efforts. Sounds a little like the Kobe response again.
Cheers for the link Chris. The aftershocks are wobbling us here regularly, the nuclear disaster is worrying and has a friend considering a rapid move back to New Zealand. Life does go on but it does feel very very different. We know even as we are inconvenienced here, things are mostly still as they were, yet the knowledge of the hellish conditions just 3 hours north puts everything we do against that feeling and we wait, wait for the next wobble, or the big one that is overdue in Tokyo. At this moment it feels as if nothing good can happen again. At least for a long while. Damon
Do you have any news about Yoron island?
Did they have any problems with the Tsunami?
Can you give me any link about Yoron to see or get info about the latest news on this island?
Thanks
Hello,
Thank you so much for posting updates. Your site has given me comfort to know those in Okinawa are safe. My Mother is from Okinawa and enroute to Okinawa from Detroit this past week. She called me 6:30am EST to let me know she made it home safe. She said I will hear that there was an earthquake and there are tsunami warnings for Okinawa. Me just waking up hadn’t realized yet how big of an earthquake it was. She said she was on the flight from Tokyo to Okinawa when about an hour into the flight they announced there was an earthquake. CRAZY! Thank goodness she was on that flight!!!
Thank you again for posting these updates 🙂 My heart goes out to those in Japan.
I’m so glad I thought to do a Google search and discover your blog. My father was stationed on Okinawa when I was a child. It is my favorite place that I’ve ever lived. I still have such fond memories of the island and have maintained a love for Asian culture. I’m heartbroken over the devastation in Japan and have been concerned for Okinawa. I had hoped since it was not in the news, it had been spared. I’m so glad to have found your blog to discover that to be true. Your photos make me long to visit again. What a beautiful place!
Do you know marine John Fugate I am his niece?
HI there, thanks for that calming information my boyfriend is in Okinawa right now and the time the quake happened in Sendai he doesnt have any idea till the time that i called him. He said that they felt nothing at that time, however its just the waves after that are getting unusual but thank goodness they are alright. I went there last year July,, and Im planning to visit again this end of April, hopefully the chaos is over and done that time, I love Okinawa, I love Japan, its very sad that this is happening to this country,
I have high hopes that this will end soon! and Japan will recover from this as quickly as possible. They are one good nation one of the most discipline people in the planet.
Lets pray that this will end soon,
THanks!
The number of dead as yet found, is about as many as the town I grew up in – chilling! And probably many more missing!
And if there is a full-scale meltdown most parts of Hokkaido will be uninhabitable – a major catastrophy for both JApan and the rest of the world.
Already the sea near Fukushima is fairly radioactive – making a major traditional trade totally redundant! What will the Japanese then live off – more whales ‘scientifically’ killed to replace the loss in local catch?!