Archive for May, 2011

Ultra High Definition TV

This looks pretty damn awesome:

This 85″ LCD display has a resolution of 7,680 x 4,320 pixels, which is equivalent to 16 times the resolution of HDTV, allowing for the display of incredibly detailed, high-quality images.

In the past the only way to show the Ultra High Definition broadcast at full resolution was using a projector, but due to Sharp’s UV2A LCD technology, which allows for an unprecedented level of precision when controlling the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in an LCD structure, Sharp have been able to create a flawless 33megapixel display.

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Earthquake Creates Hot Spring Under Apartment Building

The March 11th earthquake caused a hot spring to burst forth from the ground underneath this apartment in Fukushima prefecture:

The water is about 26.5 °C (79.7 °F). The pavement around the building has taken on a rusty appearance because the water contains iron.

The apartment building is built on top of an area that was once a coal mine. The old abandoned mine shafts have probably been flooded with hot spring water for some time. When the big earthquake hit the region on March 11th, the sinking of the ground pushed up some of that water.

Since the earthquake, the soil around the apartment building has become increasingly soggy. Concrete stairs that were undamaged by the earthquake have started to crumble. The owner of the apartment building is worried that the foundations of the building could become unstable.

In other parts of Japan, the earthquake damaged hot springs. The waters dried up completely at Soma Onsen in Akita prefecture, an area that has had a natural hot spring bath since the Edo Period. The owner of the Soma Onsen ryokan had to close his business until a pump could be installed. The pump is now working, and the onsen has reopened.

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Radioactive Tea in Japan

A report from FTV about radiation in tea, fish, and grass:

The report shows radiation tests being conducted on ayu in Ibaraki prefecture. The fishing season for ayu will begin soon, and there are concerns that radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident may have contaminated rivers.

The radiation has already created a major problem for livestock farms. Many farms throughout Tohoku and Kanto have discovered that their pastures contain grass with levels of radioactive cesium that exceed government safety standards. They will now have to spend a considerable amount of money buying tons of grass.

Radioactive contamination of tea leaves has been found as far south as Kanagawa prefecture. However, there is considerable debate over how one should judge the health risk of radiation in tea. Up until recently, tea leaves were judged the same as any other food, with a cesium limit of 500 becquerels per kilogram. There are a couple problems with such a system:

• Tea leaves had been tested before they were dried and processed. When dried and processed into aracha, the amount of radiation per kilogram increases.
• Tea is a drink. People do not directly eat tea leaves or dried tea, yet the government safety standards treat it as if it was a vegetable. Even if tea leaves or dried and processed tea contain radiation over the safety limit for food, when it is brewed into tea, the drink itself would very likely be within government safety standards for radiation in drinks.

Earlier this week, the Japanese government asked local governments throughout the Tohoku and Kanto regions to start conducting radiation tests on dried and processed tea leaves. However, because of the above mentioned issues, the governments of Shizuoka and Kanagawa voiced opposition to the measure. On May 19, Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu declared that his prefecture would not comply with the request:

“Checking (the radioactivity levels in) raw tea leaves and tea for drinking is enough,” said Kawakatsu.

Aracha weighs about one-fifth normal tea due to water evaporation and tends to have a higher level of radioactive substances than raw green tea leaves.

Alarmed by the recent detection of high levels of radioactive cesium in tea leaves, the ministry has ordered Tokyo and more than a dozen other prefectures in the Tohoku, Kanto and other regions to check Aracha, instructing them to ban distribution of Aracha if cesium tops the national provisional limit of 500 becquerels per kilogram.

There has been a conflict of opinions within the central government over the issue, with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare insisting that a uniform limit be strictly applied for Aracha while the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries arguing that the application of the limit should be flexible.

“By confusing consumers, the central government could heighten public distrust in the state,” said Gov. Kawakatsu.

Kanagawa, Saitama, and Ibaraki have followed Shizuoka’s example, and have rejected the request to conduct tests on aracha.

Here’s a video clip of Gov. Kawakatsu drinking cups of Shizuoka tea and declaring to the press that it is perfectly safe to drink:

It’s a good thing that the national government is trying to be strict about preventing contaminated food from reaching consumers, but it safety standards should be sensible. If tea is being sold for drinks and not as a vegetable, it makes sense for farmers and the governors of tea-producing prefectures to demand that the national government judge the tea using standards for drinks instead of standards for food.

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Baby Fails to Anger Cat

The title of this video is “the cat that doesn’t become angry” (怒らない猫):

Despite some really annoying behavior from the baby, the cat does not attack!

You can see more of the cat’s life at this Japanese blog.

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Fukushima Workers Face Heat Stroke Danger

On Wednesday, a worker at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered from heat stroke after spending a few minutes inside the #2 reactor building:

One of the four workers, a man in his 40s, fell ill from heatstroke after the mission, though he made a full recovery after getting an intravenous drip at a medical station.

“The heat and humidity in the reactor building is so high, spending 15 minutes or more there would be a problem for anyone,” one source said, highlighting the difficulty of conducting manned operations inside.

To deal with the heat, which will only worsen as summer approaches, TEPCO also revealed a plan on May 19 to build rest stations for up to 1,000 workers, equipped with coolers and stocked with drinks. They will also feature spaces to change in and out of protective suits, and sofas and chairs to let workers relax. Currently there are just two rest stations on-site, able to accommodate about 100 people total.

With an incredibly hot and humid summer the risk of heat stroke will be very serious, especially when one thinks about the plastic suits the workers are wearing. If proper measures aren’t taken, the heat could be more dangerous than the radiation.

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Justin Bieber’s Post-Earthquake Visit to Japan

Justin Bieber came to Japan this week to give concerts in Osaka and Tokyo. Here he is meeting with earthquake survivors:

And here he is on the “Mezamashi TV” morning show, giving a message to fans:

A full clip of his live appearance on the TV program can be watched here.

Say what you want about his music, but the kid deserves some respect for overcoming the irrational stupidity of his concert crew and sticking with his planned tour.

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