Archive for June, 2011

Taiji’s Pilot Whales Smile & Promote Dental Hygiene

A Japanese TV news crew visits the town of Taiji in Wakayama prefecture, where something shocking is happening.

Pilot whales have been captured and…….they’re having their teeth brushed:

June 4th was Cavity Prevention Day in Japan, so the whales at the Taiji aquarium are being used to promote proper dental hygiene. After brushing, the whales “gargle” water to clean their mouths!

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Taro Aso Talks About Pokémon

Former Prime Minister Taro Aso has been acting as an “anime ambassador” for Japan. Here he is delivering a sound bite about the gibberish language of Pokémon:

Aso observes that Pokémon only speak a language of “kyu-kyu-kyu” sounds, yet the entire world understands what they’re saying.

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YouTube Radiation Video: 5.77 Microsieverts Per Hour Recorded in Tokyo Suburb

A few days ago, a YouTube user named asuperdry began to upload video clips of radiation measurements in Kashiwa city, a suburb of Tokyo. In several clips he places a dosimeter on the ground and records radiation in of over 5 microsieverts per hour, a level far higher than one would expect in an area that is about 200 kilometers south of Fukushima:

Here’s what he says in the video description:

Another beautiful day in Japan, I am 135 miles / 220 Km south of Fukushima, on the outskirts of the Tokyo area. It is Tuesday, June 7th, as you can see in the video, I just walk outside of my house and …. radiation. The air is not dangerous but the ground is. The radiation is much higher in low lying areas and the government here is desperately trying to keep it quiet.

And this is what he claims in another video:

This whole area for miles around is just blanketed with radiation. The streets and most of the concrete and side walks are with-in normal radiation levels. Its the soil and vegetation as well as anywhere there is dirt and debris and especially around all drains and gutters and in low lying areas.

Is there truth to the video uploader’s claim? Has the area been blanketed by high levels of radiation? Let’s examine a few facts:

1. He is using a DP802i dosimeter. As the Tokyo Radiation Levels Facebook group has pointed out, this particular model of dosimeter is known for giving inaccurate readings: “I can’t find much info on this DP802i device but it appears to be wildly inaccurate or you need to leave it there for a long time to get a proper reading. At the 1:50 mark you can see that the white radex geiger counter sitting on top of the thorium mantels is measuring ~2.1 uSv/h. The Dp802i sitting to the left and further away is measuring about 9.3 uSv/h. It is of course not possible to get such a higher reading from further away with less surface area. I think the algorithms of the device is over compensating for the rate of change or it needs a very long time to get a proper idea of dose.”
2. The Japanese government is not the only source for information about radiation. Japanese bloggers have been conducting their own radiation measurements in Kashiwa. There are also threads on 2channel in which users in Kashiwa post radiation readings. Another Youtuber even brought her geiger counter to Kashiwa and filmed her own measurement video. Radiation measurements have been taken in the air, on the ground in parks, in flowerbeds, and on the streets. Nobody has recorded anything remotely close to 5.77 microsieverts per hour.

So lots concerned Japanese people throughout the Kanto region and even in asuperdry’s city have been making their own radiation measurements, none of which match the numbers in his video. They must be wrong, or all Japan must be in on the conspiracy to cover up the truth and trick poor foreigners into thinking this country is safe….

Update: An in-depth study of radiation levels in Northern Kanto has found that the area around Kashiwa does have higher radiation levels than other areas. However, it is low enough not to be a threat to human health.

[hat tip to Enosp]

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Radiation at the Beach in Japan?

A TV news crew visits a beach in Ibaraki, where prefectural officials are taking measurements of radiation in the sand and water:

They are testing the concentration of radioactive iodine and cesium in the sea water. Test results will be made public some time later this month. Tourists usually flock to the beaches in July.

There are already a few surfers at the beach. One guy says there are fewer surfers than there were at this time last year, but he doesn’t seem very worried about radiation in the water.

Kanagawa prefecture and Chiba prefecture have already begun to post sea water radiation test results online. So far, neither prefecture has discovered any radioactive contamination.

If radiation is detected in the waves at beaches in Ibaraki, what will be done? Officials aren’t entirely sure. The national government has safety standards for drinking water, but it hasn’t yet decided upon safety standards for swimming water.

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Stray Dogs Roam About Inside Grounds of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

A surveillance camera at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant filmed some stray dogs wandering around earlier this month:

The dogs were likely pets that were left behind when the area’s human residents were forced to evacuate in March. They may have come to the area searching for food.

A Japanese TV news report marked the dog’s location on this aerial view of the power plant. At the time, the radiation level was 0.3 millisieverts per hour (about 3 chest x-rays an hour). Humans working at the plant wouldn’t dare venture out there without protective gear. These dogs have no protection, and have probably been eating contaminated food for weeks.

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Tokyo Sky Tree’s Outrageously Expensive Observation Deck Entry Fee: 3000 Yen

The Tokyo Sky Tree will open its doors to tourists on May 22, 2012. If you’re planning on visiting it and taking an elevator ride to the observation deck, be warned: it will be really expensive.

One adult ticket to the top observation deck will cost 3,000 yen (about $37).

Here’s how it compares to other observation decks:

• Burj Khalifa – about 2,200 yen (if purchased in advance for a specific date and time – otherwise its about 8,800 yen)
• Guangzhou TV Tower – about 1,800 yen
• Eiffel Tower – about 1,500 yen
• Tokyo Tower – 1,420 yen

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