[Via the U.S. Embassy Tokyo]Local authorities have informed the Embassy that there will be a demonstration starting at Shiba Koen, near Tokyo Tower, and arriving at the U.S. Embassy at approximately 3:00 PM on Friday, September 28.  The Government of Japan has designated the Japan Tobacco (JT) building as the location near the U.S. Embassy for these demonstrators to gather legally and peacefully.

Be aware that demonstrations can occur without notice or early warning from the police or Government of Japan officials.  We remind U.S. citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful are unpredictable and can become violent.  You should avoid the areas around the demonstration on September 28 if possible, and exercise caution if you are within the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.  Try to stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
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[Via the U.S. Embassy Tokyo] The Embassy has been advised that there will be a demonstration starting in the Shibuya area and arriving at the U.S. Embassy at approximately4:00PM on Friday, September 21.  The Government of Japan has designated the Japan Tobacco (JT) building as the designated location near the U.S. Embassy for these demonstrations to gather legally and peacefully.  U.S. citizens in Japan should be aware that demonstrations can occur without notice or early warning from the police or Government of Japan officials.  We advise, as always, that people should avoid large crowds and other gatherings that have the potential to become unsafe.  We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates if needed.  U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov, and should review the Worldwide Caution and Consular Information Sheet for Japan, which may be viewed at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1148.html.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of either the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo or one of the U.S. Consulates in Japan listed below:

U.S. Embassy Tokyo
American Citizen Services
1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
Tel: 03-3224-5174
After Hours: 03-3224-5000
Fax: 03-3224-5856
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/tacs-main.html
The U.S. Embassy serves Americans in Tokyo, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Nagano, Niigata, Saitama, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Yamagata and Yamanashi.

Consulates:

Osaka-Kobe:
11-5, Nishitenma 2-chome, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8543; Tel: 06-6315-5912, Fax: 06-6315-5914; serving Americans in Osaka, Aichi, Ehime, Fukui, Gifu, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Ishikawa, Kagawa, Kochi, Kyoto, Mie, Nara, Okayama, Shimane, Shiga, Tokushima, Tottori, Toyama, and Wakayama prefectures.
http://osaka.usconsulate.gov/

Nagoya:
Nagoya International Center Bldg. 6th floor, 1-47-1 Nagono, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya 450-0001; Tel (052) 581-4501, Fax: (052) 581-3190; providing emergency consular services only (including death and arrest cases) for Americans living in Aichi, Gifu, and Mie prefectures.
http://nagoya.usconsulate.gov/

Fukuoka:
5-26, Ohori 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0052; Tel: 092-751-9331, Fax: 092-713-9222; serving Americans in Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Oita, Saga and Yamaguchi prefectures.
http://fukuoka.usconsulate.gov/

Sapporo:
Kita 1-jo, Nishi 28-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0821; Tel: 011-641-1115, Fax: 011-643-1283; serving Americans in Akita, Aomori, Hokkaido, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures.
http://sapporo.usconsulate.gov/

Naha:
2-1-1 Toyama, Urasoe City, Okinawa 901-2104; Phone: 098.876.4211, Fax: 098.876.4243; serving Americans in Okinawa and the Amami Oshima Island group http://naha.usconsulate.gov/

The Government of Japan (GOJ) instituted a new Registry Management System on July 9, 2012. Under the new system, alien resident cards will be issued to long-term foreigners in Japan in a legal status. This may be a cause of concern for those living in Japan illegally, however, since the new system will essentially eliminate their “existence,” even if they had been recognized under the old alien registration system. (more…)

An interesting turn of events that should test the diplomatic will of Japan and the  application of domestic and international law. The LA TImes reports:

“A Japanese consulate official faces felony charges after San Mateo County prosecutors alleged he abused his wife for more than a year, including one instance when he knocked out a tooth and another when he stabbed her hand with a screwdriver.

San Francisco Vice Consul Yoshiaki Nagaya, 32, of San Bruno appeared in front of San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Leland Davis on Monday and pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of domestic violence and three counts of assault, said Dist. Atty. Steve Wagstaffe.

Prosecutors allege Nagaya’s wife of about 18 months called police the night of March 31 after her husband threw her out of a moving car in their apartment’s parking garage. (more…)

Here is a video clip from a live TV Asahi morning news and information program that aired on March 8, 2012 in Japan called “Morning Bird.” The TV Asahi reporter is Mr. Toru Tamakawa and the expert is Dr. Hiroaki Koide, Research Associate at the Research Reactor Institute of Kyoto University. Dr. Koide believes that if another earthquake or strong aftershock causes a leak in the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant’s Unit 4 spent fuel rod pool, it could signal the end of the surrounding area and even Tokyo.

As reported by Energy News:

“Most discussion of the No. 4 spent fuel pool has focused on an earthquake causing the pool to collapse. This video is different because it reveals:

1. A crack, rather than the collapse of the pool itself, can be the end of Tokyo
2. The quake that could put a crack in the pool and be the end of Tokyo does not have to be a large one
3. The sense of shock when people in Japan are made aware of this information for the first time”

Why the sense of alarm? Via the “Solid Earth,” a peer-reviewed open-access journal published by the European Geosciences Union (EGU):

“There were 20 times more quakes in 6 months after 3/11 than in previous 9 years!

From March 11 to October 27 last year, the carpet of sensors around Iwaki recorded an astonishing 24,108 shocks measuring at least 1.5 magnitude, 23 of them notching up a powerful 5.0 or more.

By comparison, from June 3 2002 to March 11 2011, there was only 1,215 such events.”

A shout out to YouTube’s Tokyobrowntabby for the hard work! Please feel free to leave your comments.

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Original Japanese Text:

小出裕章もう見ていただいて分かるようにここにプールがあってその底に使用済み燃料がたくさん溜まっているもしこれから大きな余震でも起きてここの壁が崩壊するようになればプールの水が抜けてしまいますので使用済みの燃料を冷やすことができなくなるそうするとどんどん更に溶けてしまうということになって使用済み燃料がたぶん全て溶けてしまうだろうと思いますそうなると使用済み燃料の中に含まれていた膨大な放射能が何の防壁もないここから外に噴き出してきてしまう＜地震が来ない内に使用済み燃料を抜き出して＞＜横にプールでも造って移せばいいんじゃないですか＞ところが使用済み燃料を空中に吊り上げるようなことをすると使用済み燃料から膨大な放射線が飛び出してきていますので周辺の人達はもう死んでしまうしかないというくらいの強いオペレーションフロアの上に巨大なクレーンのようなものが見えますこれがクレーンで実は巨大な容器を吊り上げたり吊り降ろしたりするためのクレーンなんですがもうこの建屋自身がもう爆発で吹き飛んでしまっていますからもうこのクレーンすらが使えないやらなければいけないことはたくさんあってまずは使用済み燃料プールの中に崩れ落ちてしまっている瓦礫などをどけなければいけないそしてどけた後に巨大な容器を沈められるように何らかのクレーンのようなものを現場で動かせるようにしなければいけない外から巨大なクレーンで吊るということができるでしょうからその準備をするそして沈めてもうたぶん何がしか壊れているであろう使用済み燃料を巨大な容器に入れてそれをまた外に吊り上げるということをやらなければいけないただそういうことを全部やろうとするとたぶん何年という単位が必要になるだろうと思います＜その何年という間に建物を壊すような地震が来たら＞おしまいです＜参照＞福島第一原発４号機燃料プール

Source: http://ima-ikiteiruhushigi.cocolog-nifty.com/nature/2012/03/post-566d.html

Note: Please click on "cc" button at the bottom right of the YouTube window to show the English subtitles.

Well, I guess that America made good on its promise to go after Japan’s yakuza. In my previous post on US President Obama declared war on the yakuza via an Executive Order: Blocking Property of Transnational Criminal Organizations, the US names four transnational organized crime groups, including the Yakuza, and authorizes the U.S. Treasury, working with the Department of Justice and State Department, to identify people involved with the groups and subsequently block their financial transactions.:

“On July 24, 2011, President Barak Obama declared war on the yakuza a.k.a. The Japanese mafia, in an executive order which stated that “(the yakuza) are becoming increasingly sophisticated and dangerous to the United States; they are increasingly entrenched in the operations of foreign governments and the international financial system, thereby weakening democratic institutions, degrading the rule of law, and undermining economic markets. These organizations facilitate and aggravate violent civil conflicts and increasingly facilitate the activities of other dangerous persons. I therefore determine that significant transnational criminal organizations constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, and hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat.” [You can read the Fact Sheet here or the entire report via PDF here.]

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