Transportation (con't.)
Due to the high concentration of companies in Tokyo, most business people living in the prefectures (counties) surrounding Tokyo, especially Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama, work in Tokyo. The vast majority commute by train as the railways are much more efficient than automobile travel. So each person figures out the most convenient route for the time that gets him to the office on time. Some companies have a flex time system, but most do not. Work starting times range between 8:30 for manufacturers, 9:00 for most public services, and 10:00 for most other sectors. The 10:00 start time is later than in other cities in Japan, mainly due to the fact that people have to travel at least one hour to work. "How long does it take you to get to the office?" "Door to door it is about an hour and a half." ("Door to door" has become a Japanese expression.) An hour and a half is considered reasonable.
Trains from 6:30 am to 9:00 am are packed. Even the special class "green car," for which you pay a separate fee for a seat, is full during those hours.
The regular train between the Ofuna area (mentioned in last post with map) to Tokyo is about 50 minutes. The train stops about every 10 minutes. Most people stand in the train for the duration of the trip, both to and from the office, everyday. And you are shoulder to shoulder with everybody else.
About 10 years ago, JR started a new commuter line called the "Shonan Liner." Shonan is the coastline southwest of Tokyo, again in the Ofuna area. This train stops at three or four stations, Odawara, Chigasaki, Fujisawa, Ofuna to pick up passengers and then travels through to the city centers of Shinagawa, sometimes Shimbashi, and Tokyo to drop them off. The whole train is for seated passengers, and the cost is 500 yen (about $5).
Tickets are sold as a kind of monthly pass on the first of each month for the following month. People line up early in the morning in advance of the 6:45 am distribution of priority numbers. You write your name, phone number, and the desired train (there are about 10 different departure times) and hand it to the JR staff. After 4:30 pm that day you go back to the JR office to see if you can buy a liner ticket. (There are some tickets allocated for sale each day for the next day's commute for people who don't need a daily ticket or whose schedule varies.)
In our house, darling husband (DH) has to leave for work earlier than I do, so I am elected to stand in line in the morning. (Fortunately we like about a 3-minute walk from the station.) Each month he has been able to buy a ticket, so the morning commute has been pleasant. The trip takes about 40 minutes, usually spent by taking a nap.
With the current situation in which power is being conserved, our JR line is operating at only 80% to 90% capacity; furthermore, the Shonan Liner has been temporarily discontinued. Current Shonan Liner service is cancelled; April and May Liner services are not scheduled. So tomorrow, April 1, I don't have to go stand in line in the morning.
However, DH, who usually takes the 7:00 am train, has changed his schedule as there is no way he can get a seat on a regular train. So since the earthquake, he takes a train that makes more stops (taking more time) and travels a different route but ends up in the same destination. Because he can get a seat. So now he takes a train leaving at 6:15 am. That is pretty early.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
3.31.11 (part 1)
Transportation
It is not enough to say that the public transportation system in the Kanto area (Tokyo and surrounding prefectures/counties) has a complex train and subway network. The capital effectively runs on the system. You could say that trains and subways are even part of the culture. It is evident on a day-to-day basis in that you always have the train schedule and route in the back of your mind because it gets you home. Without a running system, you cannot get home, as we saw on 3.11 when all public transport stopped after the earthquake.
Just speaking about the most comprehensive system, now, the Japan Rail (JR) lines cover the whole area. Have a look: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/info/map_a4ol.pdf
Be aware that this shows only the JR lines; so-called "private rail lines"* do not appear, nor do subway lines. The color-coded map only hints at the complexity. The colors show the route; not shown is the time taken from departure to destination. Looking at Ofuna station in the bottom left of the map, for example, you see that there are three lines (orange, dark blue, light blue) that connect to Tokyo. The Ofuna-Tokyo trip takes between 45 and 60 minutes, depending on line taken and time of day. While today service on the basic lines is back to 90% of normal, the commuter lines are still out of commission.
Next: commuter train lines
*Until 1987, JR was "JNR" or Japan National Railways, a state-owned entity. Although JNR was broken up by region into private companies, the other private railways are still referred to as "private" railways in usual conversation. JR lines in the Kanto/Tokyo area are run by "JR East."
It is not enough to say that the public transportation system in the Kanto area (Tokyo and surrounding prefectures/counties) has a complex train and subway network. The capital effectively runs on the system. You could say that trains and subways are even part of the culture. It is evident on a day-to-day basis in that you always have the train schedule and route in the back of your mind because it gets you home. Without a running system, you cannot get home, as we saw on 3.11 when all public transport stopped after the earthquake.
Just speaking about the most comprehensive system, now, the Japan Rail (JR) lines cover the whole area. Have a look: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/info/map_a4ol.pdf
Be aware that this shows only the JR lines; so-called "private rail lines"* do not appear, nor do subway lines. The color-coded map only hints at the complexity. The colors show the route; not shown is the time taken from departure to destination. Looking at Ofuna station in the bottom left of the map, for example, you see that there are three lines (orange, dark blue, light blue) that connect to Tokyo. The Ofuna-Tokyo trip takes between 45 and 60 minutes, depending on line taken and time of day. While today service on the basic lines is back to 90% of normal, the commuter lines are still out of commission.
Next: commuter train lines
*Until 1987, JR was "JNR" or Japan National Railways, a state-owned entity. Although JNR was broken up by region into private companies, the other private railways are still referred to as "private" railways in usual conversation. JR lines in the Kanto/Tokyo area are run by "JR East."
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
3.29.11 (Tuesday)
Sounds
Public Announcements
At dusk, the city PA system comes on to announce whether or not the area blackout will occur the next day. "This is Tokyo Electric Power Co. to announce tomorrow's electricity supply. Group X, scheduled for X time, will (will not) experience blackout tomorrow." The announcement repeats once. The TV news also makes the announcement.
Cell Phone Alerts
There is an early warning system that alerts areas surrounding the epicenter of an earthquake about to be felt. If you register your cell phone to this alert system, your phone will ring a warning. The ring is unique: the sound is different from those used for normal incoming calls. Up to now, I usually turned off my phone after we both got home. Now, however, I usually take it into the bedroom at night. It has rung a couple of times during the night, waking us up.
Alien sounds in these abnormal times.
Public Announcements
At dusk, the city PA system comes on to announce whether or not the area blackout will occur the next day. "This is Tokyo Electric Power Co. to announce tomorrow's electricity supply. Group X, scheduled for X time, will (will not) experience blackout tomorrow." The announcement repeats once. The TV news also makes the announcement.
Cell Phone Alerts
There is an early warning system that alerts areas surrounding the epicenter of an earthquake about to be felt. If you register your cell phone to this alert system, your phone will ring a warning. The ring is unique: the sound is different from those used for normal incoming calls. Up to now, I usually turned off my phone after we both got home. Now, however, I usually take it into the bedroom at night. It has rung a couple of times during the night, waking us up.
Alien sounds in these abnormal times.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
3.26.11 (Saturday)
Keikaku Teiden
Every year on December 12, the "kanji of the year" is announced. In other words, this is the language or expression that typifies the year almost completed. Last year the kanji character chosen meant "hot" because of the record-breaking summer heat. The kanji chosen for 2011 may well be that for "earthquake" or "tsunami," due to the loss of life and damage from both. Or it might be a word related to nuclear power or radiation. But it also might be the words "keikaku teiden," literally "scheduled power outage," usually called "rolling blackouts." The blackouts are said necessary due to the reduced power supply available from the damaged reactors.
Since this policy has been implemented in the greater Kanto/Tokyo area, we have developed a new consciousness toward time management. It is a rotation system in 5 groups/areas. Tokyo Electric Power Company publishes on the web a PDF of the coming week's schedule. It is color coded for Groups 1 to 5 and easy to read. By now, everyone knows his own group and that of family and friends. That is because we now have to navigate this schedule to accomplish tasks in daily life.
The three catastrophes resulted in an aftermath affecting many millions of people living and working in the greater Kanto area, albeit in a much less acute way than they did people in the immediately affected areas. At this point in time, Keikaku Teiden blackouts are scheduled to go on through the summer.
Every year on December 12, the "kanji of the year" is announced. In other words, this is the language or expression that typifies the year almost completed. Last year the kanji character chosen meant "hot" because of the record-breaking summer heat. The kanji chosen for 2011 may well be that for "earthquake" or "tsunami," due to the loss of life and damage from both. Or it might be a word related to nuclear power or radiation. But it also might be the words "keikaku teiden," literally "scheduled power outage," usually called "rolling blackouts." The blackouts are said necessary due to the reduced power supply available from the damaged reactors.
Since this policy has been implemented in the greater Kanto/Tokyo area, we have developed a new consciousness toward time management. It is a rotation system in 5 groups/areas. Tokyo Electric Power Company publishes on the web a PDF of the coming week's schedule. It is color coded for Groups 1 to 5 and easy to read. By now, everyone knows his own group and that of family and friends. That is because we now have to navigate this schedule to accomplish tasks in daily life.
The three catastrophes resulted in an aftermath affecting many millions of people living and working in the greater Kanto area, albeit in a much less acute way than they did people in the immediately affected areas. At this point in time, Keikaku Teiden blackouts are scheduled to go on through the summer.
Friday, March 25, 2011
3.25.11 (Friday)
It is no wonder family and friends in the US are alarmed by the overall situation in Japan. Of course everyone in Japan and internationally grieves for the loss from the earthquake and tsunami.
However, the English-language reporting of the aftermath is extremely unreliable. Newscasters on the radio say things like (start paraphrase): the people of Tokyo were led to believe that the water was unsafe due to radiation. (end paraphrase) What they don't seem to understand is that events are changing. What was accurate yesterday has changed today. Radiation levels in the water were higher than safe for infants on one day early this week, but on March 24, there was an announcement that levels had dropped to average levels. Further, the statements are much too broad, seeming to indicate that all of Japan (the size of California) is experiencing the exact same circumstances.
Another thing that is puzzling is why one network's reporter is posted in Osaka. Osaka is about 350 miles from Fukushima. Tokyo is about 150 miles from Fukushima. How can any original reporting be done from such a distance? It doesn't seem very responsible to me.
However, the English-language reporting of the aftermath is extremely unreliable. Newscasters on the radio say things like (start paraphrase): the people of Tokyo were led to believe that the water was unsafe due to radiation. (end paraphrase) What they don't seem to understand is that events are changing. What was accurate yesterday has changed today. Radiation levels in the water were higher than safe for infants on one day early this week, but on March 24, there was an announcement that levels had dropped to average levels. Further, the statements are much too broad, seeming to indicate that all of Japan (the size of California) is experiencing the exact same circumstances.
Another thing that is puzzling is why one network's reporter is posted in Osaka. Osaka is about 350 miles from Fukushima. Tokyo is about 150 miles from Fukushima. How can any original reporting be done from such a distance? It doesn't seem very responsible to me.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
3.23.11
This morning in the 7:00 hour, there were three earthquakes in the Tohoku region that could be felt here. The 6.0 one at 7:14, in particular, was very long: this is one thing that is different about the Tohoku earthquakes. Having lived in Japan and in California, both earthquake-prone areas, I have experienced earthquakes all my life. the Sylmar Quake in 1971 is still clear in my memory.
The March 11 earthquake and many of the aftershocks are very lengthy in duration. They just keep going.
Today our scheduled blackout was cancelled. We were both in Tokyo during the time it was to take place. Tomorrow's blackout is planned for 6:00pm to 10:00pm, definitely a more inconvenient time. We might meet in Yokohama to go to dinner so we can eat in the light.
The March 11 earthquake and many of the aftershocks are very lengthy in duration. They just keep going.
Today our scheduled blackout was cancelled. We were both in Tokyo during the time it was to take place. Tomorrow's blackout is planned for 6:00pm to 10:00pm, definitely a more inconvenient time. We might meet in Yokohama to go to dinner so we can eat in the light.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
3.22.11
Tuesday the 22nd
Sunday and Monday were fairly stable here without any earthquakes that could be felt in our area (about 175 miles from the affected Tohoku area). However, today so far, we have had 3 fairly large quakes: the first at 12:38pm - 5.7 on Richter, the second at 4:19pm - 6.3, and just now, 6:19 pm - 6.3. So much for that false sense of physical security.
The Tokyo Electric Power truck has made its rounds with announcements about tomorrow's power outages. Our areas is scheduled to be without power from 1:50pm to 5:00pm. The morning term from 6:20am to 10:00am was cancelled.
Sunday and Monday were fairly stable here without any earthquakes that could be felt in our area (about 175 miles from the affected Tohoku area). However, today so far, we have had 3 fairly large quakes: the first at 12:38pm - 5.7 on Richter, the second at 4:19pm - 6.3, and just now, 6:19 pm - 6.3. So much for that false sense of physical security.
The Tokyo Electric Power truck has made its rounds with announcements about tomorrow's power outages. Our areas is scheduled to be without power from 1:50pm to 5:00pm. The morning term from 6:20am to 10:00am was cancelled.
After 3.11.11
The March 11, 2011, Friday, 2:46pm earthquake was incredibly strong, but fortunately we live about 175 miles from the epicenter, so we did not have much damage. Both hubby and I were in Tokyo, which is closer to Sendai and the Tohoku area, for work that day. Cell phones and even land lines were out, but after about 8 hours we could finally make contact. He walked 1.5 hours my direction and I 30 minutes his direction and we met. Then we walked back to where I had been and spent the night with about 10 others. Of course all train/subway services were suspended until the next day. So probably millions of people could not get home that night.
The aftershocks, many of them 6.0 and above, are unnerving and frequent. For the past 4 to 5 days, they often strike at 9:30 or 10:30 pm, for some reason. We are on the 5th floor and it is strong shake. But it is better than the first 3 or 4 days when we had 20 or more aftershocks that could be felt every day. And it is almost inconceivable, but for the first 2 hours after the main earthquake, we had aftershocks about every 5 minutes, and then for the next two hours about every 10 minutes.
Tokyo Power has scheduled rolling blackouts and 3-hour no-power periods rotate between 5 groups/areas. These are implemented to save energy in the greater Tokyo/Kanto area to make availability for Tohoku. Last week our group had 3 days when we had 2 "terms," so all electricity was off in several area cities from 1pm to 4pm and then again from 7pm to 10pm. It is nothing like what the people in Tohoku are going through, but it is pretty inconvenient. No heat, no lights, of course no cooking...it is an odd thing. We were "off term" for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, a national holiday, but today, the 22nd, we are looking at one definite and one possible blackout. The morning blackout will go ahead, but whether the afternoon blackout goes on as scheduled will be confirmed around noon. Now, 8:00 am, it is 6 degrees C (43 F), pretty cold, which means energy use must be fairly high. I think that the afternoon blackout is likely.
So many family members, relatives, and old friends have expressed concern. It has been very encouraging. So we are doing well under the circumstances. Thank you all so much.
The aftershocks, many of them 6.0 and above, are unnerving and frequent. For the past 4 to 5 days, they often strike at 9:30 or 10:30 pm, for some reason. We are on the 5th floor and it is strong shake. But it is better than the first 3 or 4 days when we had 20 or more aftershocks that could be felt every day. And it is almost inconceivable, but for the first 2 hours after the main earthquake, we had aftershocks about every 5 minutes, and then for the next two hours about every 10 minutes.
Tokyo Power has scheduled rolling blackouts and 3-hour no-power periods rotate between 5 groups/areas. These are implemented to save energy in the greater Tokyo/Kanto area to make availability for Tohoku. Last week our group had 3 days when we had 2 "terms," so all electricity was off in several area cities from 1pm to 4pm and then again from 7pm to 10pm. It is nothing like what the people in Tohoku are going through, but it is pretty inconvenient. No heat, no lights, of course no cooking...it is an odd thing. We were "off term" for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, a national holiday, but today, the 22nd, we are looking at one definite and one possible blackout. The morning blackout will go ahead, but whether the afternoon blackout goes on as scheduled will be confirmed around noon. Now, 8:00 am, it is 6 degrees C (43 F), pretty cold, which means energy use must be fairly high. I think that the afternoon blackout is likely.
So many family members, relatives, and old friends have expressed concern. It has been very encouraging. So we are doing well under the circumstances. Thank you all so much.
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