President Obama: Standing with Japan

President Obama provides an update on the situation in Japan following earthquakes and a tsunami and says the United States is committed to providing support and helping Japan recover and rebuild. March 17, 2011.

Amazing Tsunami video shows rescue of stranded people

Via Channel 4 News:

Eyewitness footage of the tsunami striking northern Japan and the subsequent scramble to rescue men, women and children from the flooded streets:

A Message from George Takei on the Japan Quake and Tsunami

George Takei on the Japan Quake and Tsunami: Gaman

Actor George Takei asks for the world's help for victims of the quake and tsunami in northern Japan. Please donate at www.redcross.org www.savethechildren.org  or www.doctorswithoutborders.org.

Twitter List: Japan

I've started to collect a list of sources in Japan for news and information regarding the situation. I will update it regularly.

japantimes - The Japan Times: News and features from the most widely read English-language newspaper in Japan

jt_kamiya - Setsuko Kamiya: Reporter at The Japan Times.

jt_nakata - Hiroko Nakata: The Japan Times staff writer/editor.

reijiyoshida_JT - Reiji Yoshida: Staff writer/editor at The Japan Times : politics, biz, general news.

kzinagata - kazuaki nagata: Reporter at The Japan Times.

JPN_PMO - This is the official English twitter account of Prime Minister’s Office of Japan.

norishikata - Noriyuki SHIKATA: Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Public Relations, Director of Global Communications at Prime Minister's Office of Japan

AmbassadorRoos - John V. Roos: John V. Roos and his family arrived in Japan in 2009. These are his impressions, in English and in Japanese, of his experiences as U.S. Ambassador to Japan.

DailyYomiuri - The Daily Yomiuri: News from The Daily Yomiuri, the English-language sister publication of Japan's largest daily newspaper, The Yomiuri Shimbun.

japanobserver - The Japan Observer: Daily Japanese news links selected by Timothy J. Phelan, editor of thejapanobserver.com and Professor of Japanese Studies at Miyagi University, Japan.

HirokoTabuchi - Hiroko Tabuchi: Tokyo-based biz, econ & tech reporter for The New York Times

TomokoHosaka - Tomoko A. Hosaka:  Journalizing Japan for The Associated Press - biz, econ, tech, politics, culture.

yurikageyama - Yuri Kageyama: Correspondent for The Associated Press AP Business Writer based in Tokyo AP

sanchanta - Mariko Sanchanta: Deputy bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal in Tokyo.

daiwaka - Daisuke Wakabayashi:  I cover the Japanese tech industry for the Wall Street Journal in Tokyo

AkikoFujita - Akiko Fujita:  ABC News Reporter in Tokyo

KyungLahCNN - Kyung Lah: CNN Correspondent

martyn_williams - Martyn Williams: Multimedia Ed & Tokyo bureau chief at IDG News Service. Cover Japan for PC World, Macworld etc.

kenmogi - Ken Mogi: The Qualia Journal

survivingnjapan - Ashley: an American living in Shizuoka, Japan

tokyotimes - Lee Chapman: an Englishman living in Tokyo since 1998

gakuranman - Michael Gakuran

Matt_Alt - Matt Alt: Full time writer and translator

TokyoReporter - Tokyo Reporter: News, features, and photography from Tokyo

tokyodiaries - Nick Roberts: Anthropologist/Qual Researcher on sabbatical in Tokyo

TimeOutTokyo - magazine, city guide Japan earthquake live report, News, emergency information, live reaction

Tokyographer - Anthony Tatekawa: Freelance photographer living in Tokyo for several years.

Japan: Earthquake and tsunami

Yesterday's devastating earthquake (which measured 8.9 on the Richter scale) and tsunami that hit Japan is an immense catastrophe on a scale that's hard to comprehend. Indeed, the earthquake was so powerful that it moved the main island of Japan by 8 feet (2.4 meters) and shifted the Earth on its axis. [link via CNN]

This afternoon, it was reported that nearly 9,500 people are unaccounted for in the town of Minamisanriku. The town is located near the epicenter of Friday's earthquake.

Channel 4 News has a shocking video from Japanese TV that shows the dramatic damage to the port town of Minamisanriku. The before and after scenes are hard to watch - the town is completely destroyed:



Also, one of Japan's nuclear power plants (Fukushima Number 1) was badly damaged in Friday's massive earthquake. Thousands were evacuated from the area near the nuclear reactor. World watches nervously as Japan struggles with nuclear reactors. [link via CNN] Very worrying indeed!

Japan has requested help from the UK in the aid effort and British aid supplies and rescue experts are being sent to Japan. [link via BBC News]

My heart goes out to everyone in Japan and my condolences to those who lost loved ones in the earthquake and the tsunami.

How you can help: Japan Tsunami Appeal - British Red Cross

Google has opened a crisis response page with useful links for earthquake victims: 2011 Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami.
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15 March, 2011 Edited to add links to current information about radiation risk from the nuclear plant accident:

Radiation exposure: a quick guide to what each level means 
(via guardian.co.uk)

IAEA provides latest information on the Japanese nuclear accident and status at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant [via International Atomic Energy Agency]

Japan's Current Nuclear Situation: A realistic View - Tokyography's Blog

Q&A: Take proper steps to avoid exposure to fallout 
[via The Japan Times]

Radiation exposure: The fast facts about thyroid cancer and other health risks  [TIME.com]
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Related post from my blog:
Twitter List: Japan for news and information regarding the current situation.