The State of Things in Tokyo
One month after the huge earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011 and the beginning of the failure of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the DFG Office in Japan resumed full operations on 11 April. The DFG staff in Tokyo (Myra Bauersachs, Dr. Saiki Hase, Hanako Uchikoshi and Dr. Iris Wieczorek (Director)) would like to express their heartfelt thanks for all the enquiries, good wishes and support they have received. They are pleased that their office is serving as a contact and drop-in-centre, and they have compiled an up-to-date report describing the local situation at the end of May.
“The natural disasters and the beginning of the collapse of the Fukushima nuclear power plant are now more than two months behind us, and – outwardly, at least – the capital city has returned to normal. Media reports on the Fukushima nuclear power plant are now rare, and focus on ensuring long-term security. Most people here are, however, still monitoring the progress being made on the power plant. A glance at the iodine levels in the drinking water is also still a part of the regular routine. These levels are – like those in the foods sold in the supermarkets – safe.
As the initially numerous aftershocks continue to recede in both strength and frequency, a certain level of normality is starting to return to both the city of Tokyo and the region. The undercurrent of nervousness which has been felt by all those living in Tokyo over the past few weeks is subsiding.
Due to travel warnings issued by the German Federal Foreign Office and the German Embassy after 11 March, our office was temporarily closed to the public. We remained available via phone and email and maintained contact with our Japanese partners. In light of the modified travel warnings issued by the German Federal Foreign office, our office was able to resume operations on 11 April. The following weeks were characterised by numerous meetings with Japanese colleagues, and much time was spent analysing the local situation.
During the first week of May, Japan holds what is known as “Golden Week” – a series of celebrations. For many people, this was their first opportunity to relax a little after the events and to think of other things. Many used these free days to travel to affected areas to provide assistance.
In Japan’s north-eastern regions, things are still very far from normal. Rebuilding there will take years, or even decades. At the beginning of May, the Japanese parliament agreed an emergency budget of 33 billion euros to fund the reconstruction, and additional expenses are expected to arise over the next few months. The tsunami which followed the earthquake on 11 March 2011 destroyed entire coastal regions and claimed many lives. The death toll is currently over 14,000, and a further 12,000 people are missing.
Out of mourning and reverence, events throughout Japan were cancelled in the month following the natural disasters. Out of respect for our Japanese partners, we also postponed two events. These had been planned for mid-April and will now take place in the autumn. All upcoming events will continue as planned. They are an important symbol of solidarity, and we are pleased that participants from abroad are once again happy to travel to Japan.
Isolated scientific events are also taking place in Japan to discuss the future of nuclear energy and possible alternatives. The Japanese government is now focusing intensively on this topic, and protests by the Japanese population – in the form of anti-nuclear demonstrations, for example – are increasing.
The budget for science and research remains unclear. In the medium and long term, the focus will be on reconstructing Japan’s research infrastructure. It is to be expected that international cooperation will increase strongly in significance. Our Information for Researchers, Issue 15 of 24 March (“Straightforward, Flexible Support for Cooperation with Japan”) was and is an important signal in favour of supporting Japanese cooperation initiatives, one which was greatly appreciated in Japan. Both the DFG Head Office and our office have received numerous enquires and proposals, and funding increases for existing projects have already been approved.”
