A devastating earthquake hit Japan on March 11. The earthquake caused a destructive tsunami and that swept through northeast Japan. It also damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and radioactivity leaked into the air and sea. Major affected areas are Tohoku and north Kanto region, such as Miyagi, Iwate, Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures.
Disaster also affected Kanto region, including Tokyo. Infrastructure was partially paralyzed and aftershocks has been occurring again and again.
Western Japan doesn't suffer from the disaster. Although the media repetitively emphasizes catastrophe in northeast Japan, many areas are peaceful.
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But most Japanese people, including those who live in western Japan, don't think the disaster as somebody else's problem. Many of them felt great sympathy for victims and evacuees. Many of them do what they can to help victims and evacuees. A lot of organizations launch fund raising campaign. Large numbers of people cooperate to save electricity. But unfortunately, some people who live in safe regions hoard essential goods.
I live in western Japan. So, I didn't face the disaster. Most people around me live their lives as usual. But some people seem to hoard mineral waters and dry-cell batteries. Some essential goods and emergency supplies are sold out in most shops. Economic activities contract because supply chain partially based on northeast Japan is damaged. On the other hand, many organizations, including local governments, local broadcasting stations, etc. conduct fund raising campaign.
