Today (Saturday), was my youngest daughter’s School’s Open House…the day the parents can come watch the classes.
About eight years ago Japan stopped having Saturday be a “school day”…except for special occasions.
Days that parents are expected to come (Open House, Sports Day, etc) are usually on Saturdays…and then the next school day (usually the following Monday) is a day off for the kids.
So my youngest doesn’t have school this Monday.
Anyways, I went to watch her band practice (she plays the trombone) and then her Health Class.
Before we went to her school this morning, though, there was a big 地震 (earthquake) in Northern Japan.
It registered a 6 (out of 7) on the 震度 Japanese Earthquake Scale at the epicenter. It only registered about a “2” in Tokyo…but our house was swaying.
Up in 岩手県 (Iwate Prefecture) and 宮城県 (Miyagi Prefecture), the areas at the epicenter, there were landslides and a broken bridge.
So far, three people have been confirmed dead. One man died when he got hit by a falling rock and another man died in a landslide. Possibly the most tragic death is that of a man who panicked and ran outside…where he was hit by a truck!
Tokyo Five 
Dad…
Thanks for visiting my site and commenting.
And “Happy Father’s Day”!
>I’m so glad there was no damage in Tokyo from the earthquake.
Us, too!
>I saw on the news that Japan has the most earthquakes each year.
Yes, it’s true. Japan sits on four tetonic plates. Everytime they shift there’s an earthquake. Thankfully most are mild!
>I’ve never experienced one (as you know)
Yes, the East Coast of the U.S. doesn’t normally get ‘quakes.
It’s the Pacific Ocean that has the most…so California, Hawaii, Japan, etc get alot.
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sfrunner…
>It brings back a lot of memories from 2001.
Maybe one day you can visit Tokyo again.
>I looked at the Tokyo International Marathon website yesterday.
Oh yeah, I should’ve told you the URL (it’s at: http://www.tokyo42195.org/index_en.html ). Glad you found the site.
>Certainly, I’m thinking about it but I don’t yet have a timetable for next year. I’ll know more in September.
Well, let me know when you know.
>Thanks for checking my posts too. I always welcome any comments. I added two posts since you last posted. (At: http://sfrunner.wordpress.com/ )
I saw them (and commented).
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I’m so glad there was no damage in Tokyo from the earthquake. I saw on the news that Japan has the most earthquakes each year. I’ve never experienced one (as you know) but it must be scary to feel your house move!
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tokyo5,
Thank you. The posts and the pics are so nice. It brings back a lot of memories from 2001.
I looked at the Tokyo International Marathon website yesterday. I have heard of it earlier this year. I ended up running the Los Angeles Marathon to help a friend of mine who had prostate cancer. Fortunately, he’s doing well. I dropped out at 32K only because the achilles tendon injury was acting up. Certainly, I’m thinking about it but I don’t yet have a timetable for next year. I’ll know more in September.
Thanks for checking my posts too. I always welcome any comments. I added two posts since you last posted.
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sfrunner….
You’re becoming a regular visitor / commenter on my site!
Thanks!
Please continue. I appreciate it!
>Interesting about the Tokyo International Marathon….
Haven’t you heard of it before? It’s quite famous, it seems.
Many people from all over the world run it.
If you decide to come to Japan to run in it…let me know.
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MB…
Thanks for writing.
>Is my little character an alien?
It’s called a “monster”…but looks like a “germ” to me! 🙂
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Hi tokyo5. You’re right about earthquakes. We’ve had several small ones within a 25 mile radius over the last few weeks. I was at the World Series in SF when the last big one hit here.
Interesting about the Tokyo International Marathon….
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Is my little character an alien? =D
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Wow–that is scary. I’m glad everyone is okay. It’s very sad about the people who died.
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sfrunner…
Thanks for commenting again!
>I was thinking about all of you before going to bed last night. I did read about the earthquake on the internet.
That’s right. Because of the time difference…the earthquake here occurred at 8:44AM on Saturday morning—which was Friday, 4:44PM in California (if I figured that correctly).
>Hope everyone’s is okay.
Thank you for your concern. Yes, everyone (in my family) is fine. Tokyo wasn’t hit too hard—no damage or injuries reported here.
But up north, where it hit hardest, there were casualties.
As you live in San Francisco, I’m sure you know how scary earthquakes are!
>My pkans are to start putting pics of the city on my blog in the very near future.
I look forward to seeing them!
By the way, do you know about the annual “Tokyo International Marathon”?
The next one’s scheduled for March 22, 2009.
You should come to Tokyo for it!
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Hi tokyo5. I was thinking about all of you before going to bed last night. I did read about the earthquake on the internet. Hope everyone’s is okay.
Thank you for the comment on the last post. My pkans are to start putting pics of the city on my blog in the very near future. Though I’m a runner, there are things I like to share besides that.
Thank you again and have a good weekend!
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