This is a continuation of my RTW diary from November 2003.
Another striking thing about Tokyo is that there are wires everywhere. There is strong risk of earthquake – records dating back to the 10th Century show that Tokyo is hit by a major earthquake every 70 years on average. I suppose that the underground cables that we’re used to now in the UK are harder to repair than visible ones and consequently Tokyo is awash with them and it makes the place oddly reminiscent of India.
Mythology has it that Japan rests on a catfish. Each earthquake is the catfish having a twitch.
For those who are interested, the last earthquake was in 1923, so Tokyo is ‘overdue’ a big quake. I managed to get out of the city without seismological incident. This didn’t stop me from periodically making tables shake with my knees to see if I could provoke anyone into an earthquake drill… sadly the Japanese need a bit more than a few ‘gaijin’ or ‘foreigners’ making tables wobble before they go into full diving-under-the-table earthquake brace-mode though!
There was a tsunami warning on Wednesday after an earthquake was registered off the coast. There were pictures of street lamps shaking, but I couldn’t tell what town it was from the Japanese bulletin. I didn’t feel it in Kyoto.
Apparently the first the world will know of the forthcoming Tokyo earthquake is when all of the telecommunication links to Japan cut off suddenly. I felt like this had already happened though as I couldn’t find the Rugby World Cup coverage on any of the TV channels!
Don’t worry, Tokyo is still standing! I know the Japanese have been knocked out but I was able to watch Georgia v Uruguay in India (yes Bangalore was that dull), and India weren’t even in the competition! The only international channel available here seems to be CNN. And as we’re 13 hours ahead of the US, I get to watch Good Morning America as I drift off to sleep!
Another striking thing about Tokyo is that there are wires everywhere. There is strong risk of earthquake – records dating back to the 10th Century show that Tokyo is hit by a major earthquake every 70 years on average. I suppose that the underground cables that we’re used to now in the UK are harder to repair than visible ones and consequently Tokyo is awash with them and it makes the place oddly reminiscent of India.
Mythology has it that Japan rests on a catfish. Each earthquake is the catfish having a twitch.
For those who are interested, the last earthquake was in 1923, so Tokyo is ‘overdue’ a big quake. I managed to get out of the city without seismological incident. This didn’t stop me from periodically making tables shake with my knees to see if I could provoke anyone into an earthquake drill… sadly the Japanese need a bit more than a few ‘gaijin’ or ‘foreigners’ making tables wobble before they go into full diving-under-the-table earthquake brace-mode though!
There was a tsunami warning on Wednesday after an earthquake was registered off the coast. There were pictures of street lamps shaking, but I couldn’t tell what town it was from the Japanese bulletin. I didn’t feel it in Kyoto.
Apparently the first the world will know of the forthcoming Tokyo earthquake is when all of the telecommunication links to Japan cut off suddenly. I felt like this had already happened though as I couldn’t find the Rugby World Cup coverage on any of the TV channels!
Don’t worry, Tokyo is still standing! I know the Japanese have been knocked out but I was able to watch Georgia v Uruguay in India (yes Bangalore was that dull), and India weren’t even in the competition! The only international channel available here seems to be CNN. And as we’re 13 hours ahead of the US, I get to watch Good Morning America as I drift off to sleep!
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