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I am located in Hashimoto, Kanagawa (search for 神奈川県相模原市橋本 in Google Maps if you want to see where this is) and may be able to provide some insight. Japan is a

by 1331 16y ago

I am located in Hashimoto, Kanagawa (search for 神奈川県相模原市橋本 in Google Maps if you want to see where this is) and may be able to provide some insight. Japan is a relatively small country, but the current atmosphere is considerably different in different locations. My experience near Tokyo has been quite interesting, but it is nothing compared to the disaster that has unfolded north of here. For those close to the big earthquake and tsunami, life has been completely changed if they are lucky enough that it was not ended. Life is nowhere near back to normal where I live. It is surreal: with trains stopped and few cars on the road, the neighborhood has become very quiet, with the exception of public announcements through loudspeakers and "incoming quake" alerts through mobile phones. The rolling blackouts are likely a significant factor of the atmosphere. Some train lines in my area were stopped completely while others are only stopped when the power is out. The queues of people for trains have been very long, so it is difficult to commute. As a result, most stores in my area are completely closed. Some stores open when electricity is on, but many shelves are empty of goods that are in demand. Other stores have special security to allow small groups of shoppers (at a time) through a fence into the entranceway in order to purchase in-demand goods, while entrance to the actual store is blocked. Most apartments require power to pump water, so our water goes out as well when the power is off. With strong earthquakes continuing to roll in and blackouts scheduled for some time, I do not know how long it will take for things to return to normal here. I do not have direct experience of what it is like where patio11 is at, but without the rolling blackouts, I am sure that the atmosphere is very different. I have more that I would like to say, but this comment is long enough already, and my power is scheduled to turn off in five minutes.

aik 16y ago
Are the rolling blackouts happening all over Tokyo? Are people in Tokyo going to work and are kids going to their schools now just like before? Good luck to you.
- bdonlan 16y ago
  The central part of tokyo (ward 23) is (with a few very small exceptios) exempt from blackouts, due to having a lot of critical government infrastructure on its grid. Most central tokyo trains have multiple power sources, and are running all day with only slightly reduced schedules (they seem to be gradually ramping back up to full service; some, including the Yamanote line, are already back to the normal schedule). Trains to outlying areas often have to suspend service during blackout times, which rotate each day. Most Shinkansen lines are back up to some degree - some running full schedules - with the exception of lines heading northeast closer to the epicenter; those lines will need major track and station repair. A lot of people are staying home to help reduce load on the transportation and electrical infrastructure. Once the power plants start to come up (and people stop hoarding groceries), things should start to approach normality in the Tokyo area at least. Areas closer to the epicenter will need more rebuilding, however.
- 1331 16y ago
  The rolling blackouts are imposed in the cities and prefectures around Tokyo, but central Tokyo itself (the 23 wards) keep power so that the government and key industry can continue to function. Here is a map: http://www.accessj.com/2011/03/quake-power-outage-area-map.html http://www.accessj.com/2011/03/quake-power-outage-area-map.h... Basically, areas are assigned to one of five groups, and the electric company announces when each group will be without power. A given group may be without power for one or two ~3-hour periods between 6:20am and 10:00pm. The schedule is rotated for fairness, as power outages have significant impact on business. Note that south/west Japan is not part of this because they use 60hz AC while north/east Japan uses 50hz AC and the technology to convert on a large scale is not in place. The power outage schedule has been a bit frustrating, but we cannot really complain when we think of the larger context and the extreme difficulties that people are going through in other parts of Japan. The electric company said that they would post the schedule for a given day by 18:00 of the day before, but I have yet to see that happen. The schedule often changes, and this afternoon was my second time to wait for a power outage that did not come. Japan uses loudspeakers to give out current information, but I live in between two loudspeakers and am unable to make much sense of either one, particularly with the echoes. When the power did not go out this afternoon, I checked the electric company website again and see that it was updated; my power is now scheduled to be out from 3:20pm to 7:00pm. A chart on a recent newspaper article looks like a sane schedule, and I hope they stick with it! http://mainichi.jp/select/weathernews/20110311/news/20110316k0000e040083000c.html http://mainichi.jp/select/weathernews/20110311/news/20110316... I have not been to downtown Tokyo lately myself, but stories from friends indicate that the atmosphere is very different there as well, despite the fact that they always have power. I would love to go check it out myself, but I refrain from doing so in fear that it may difficult to return home if something happens while I am out. (I was returning from Tokyo on Friday afternoon and enjoyed a long hike home then, after being evacuated from a train.) Thank you very much for your wishes. Personally, I was very close to the epicenter of a M7.0 earthquake years ago, and with that experience behind me, I remain quite calm and unworried. I quit my job last year and am bootstrapping a lean startup, so I am working at home and do not even need to worry about commuting. :)

by 1331 16y ago

aik 16y ago

Are the rolling blackouts happening all over Tokyo? Are people in Tokyo going to work and are kids going to their schools now just like before? Good luck to you.

bdonlan 16y ago
The central part of tokyo (ward 23) is (with a few very small exceptios) exempt from blackouts, due to having a lot of critical government infrastructure on its grid. Most central tokyo trains have multiple power sources, and are running all day with only slightly reduced schedules (they seem to be gradually ramping back up to full service; some, including the Yamanote line, are already back to the normal schedule). Trains to outlying areas often have to suspend service during blackout times, which rotate each day. Most Shinkansen lines are back up to some degree - some running full schedules - with the exception of lines heading northeast closer to the epicenter; those lines will need major track and station repair. A lot of people are staying home to help reduce load on the transportation and electrical infrastructure. Once the power plants start to come up (and people stop hoarding groceries), things should start to approach normality in the Tokyo area at least. Areas closer to the epicenter will need more rebuilding, however.
1331 16y ago
The rolling blackouts are imposed in the cities and prefectures around Tokyo, but central Tokyo itself (the 23 wards) keep power so that the government and key industry can continue to function. Here is a map: http://www.accessj.com/2011/03/quake-power-outage-area-map.html http://www.accessj.com/2011/03/quake-power-outage-area-map.h... Basically, areas are assigned to one of five groups, and the electric company announces when each group will be without power. A given group may be without power for one or two ~3-hour periods between 6:20am and 10:00pm. The schedule is rotated for fairness, as power outages have significant impact on business. Note that south/west Japan is not part of this because they use 60hz AC while north/east Japan uses 50hz AC and the technology to convert on a large scale is not in place. The power outage schedule has been a bit frustrating, but we cannot really complain when we think of the larger context and the extreme difficulties that people are going through in other parts of Japan. The electric company said that they would post the schedule for a given day by 18:00 of the day before, but I have yet to see that happen. The schedule often changes, and this afternoon was my second time to wait for a power outage that did not come. Japan uses loudspeakers to give out current information, but I live in between two loudspeakers and am unable to make much sense of either one, particularly with the echoes. When the power did not go out this afternoon, I checked the electric company website again and see that it was updated; my power is now scheduled to be out from 3:20pm to 7:00pm. A chart on a recent newspaper article looks like a sane schedule, and I hope they stick with it! http://mainichi.jp/select/weathernews/20110311/news/20110316k0000e040083000c.html http://mainichi.jp/select/weathernews/20110311/news/20110316... I have not been to downtown Tokyo lately myself, but stories from friends indicate that the atmosphere is very different there as well, despite the fact that they always have power. I would love to go check it out myself, but I refrain from doing so in fear that it may difficult to return home if something happens while I am out. (I was returning from Tokyo on Friday afternoon and enjoyed a long hike home then, after being evacuated from a train.) Thank you very much for your wishes. Personally, I was very close to the epicenter of a M7.0 earthquake years ago, and with that experience behind me, I remain quite calm and unworried. I quit my job last year and am bootstrapping a lean startup, so I am working at home and do not even need to worry about commuting. :)