tsunami

Just a short post to reassure everyone that I have survived the Hokkaido tsunami.

At around 8.20pm Wednesday night, just as I was finishing work there was an offshore earthquake measuring 8.1 with its epicentre near the Russian owned Kuril islands, off the North East coast of Hokkaido I didn't feel anything but Gregg and Chinatsu said they did. By the time the tsunami warnings were issued we were all in a nearby restaurant for Mike and Des'ree's welcome dinner. Japan's tsunami warning system issues an automatic warning via tv and the internet. Mike and Chinatsu received warnings to their mobile phones and shortly after my dad was phoning from uist having seen the warnings on the news back home. At this time they were expecting a wave of 1-2metres. Evacuation orders were issued to several towns on the coast. In the end, however, the waves rolled in at a maximum of 60 cm, and in Kushiro it was about 20cms, but I guess its comforting to know the warning system is there.
Meantime we feasted on kobe beef, pork and yukke (raw minced beef mixed with raw egg).