Tag - disasters

 
 

DISASTERS

Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Hiroshima
Jan 15, 2019
People in flood-hit western Japan area frustrated by sluggish recovery and population loss
With Jan. 6 marking six months since deadly floods devastated parts of western Japan, many residents in the area are still living in temporary housing, towns with declining populations are seeing more people leave and some farmers with destroyed fields have decided to quit farming.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 14, 2019
Japan to test disaster warning system for Asia-Pacific region later this year using Michibiki GPS satellite
The government is preparing to test a disaster early warning system for the Asia-Pacific region using one of its quasi-zenith satellites later this year, a Kobe-based group says.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 2, 2019
Death toll from Philippine landslides, floods climbs to 85
The death toll from landslides and devastating floods in the central Philippines triggered by a tropical depression climbed to 85, officials said on Wednesday, and 20 people were missing as rescuers slowly reached cut-off communities.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
Dec 28, 2018
U.K. charity says 10 worst climate-linked disasters this year caused an estimated $85 billion in damage
From floods to extreme heat, 10 of the worst climate-linked disasters in 2018 caused at least $84.8 billion worth of damage, a study released by the charity Christian Aid said on Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 26, 2018
Japan saw record 3,451 rain- and quake-induced mudslides in 2018
A record 3,451 mudslides occurred in 2018 due to torrential rains and earthquakes, according to land ministry data.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 26, 2018
Busting myths about Fukushima No. 1
Efforts to decommission the shattered nuclear plant are headed in the right direction.
EDITORIALS
Dec 23, 2018
Improving the nation's resilience to disasters
Improvement must be made not only to physical infrastructure but also to operational aspects of the anti-disaster efforts.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Dec 21, 2018
Japan drags feet on cutting deficit as pre-tax hike budget tops ¥100 trillion
The budget shows Abe's desire to prevent a tax hike from putting the brakes on the economy by triggering a plunge in demand.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 18, 2018
Japan marks new record as foreign visitors top 30 million in 2018
The figure, eclipsing the previous record of 28.69 million set in 2017, was weighed down by a number of natural disasters that hit the country this summer.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 17, 2018
Number of people living in flood-prone areas in Japan has risen 4.4% over 20 years, research shows
The number of households in areas designated as flood-prone by the central and local governments has soared 24.9 percent.
JAPAN
Dec 14, 2018
Government approves ¥7 trillion infrastructure plan to prepare for disasters
The government on Friday approved an emergency resilience plan worth ¥7 trillion ($62 billion) for key infrastructure after the nation was hit this summer by a series of disasters, including earthquakes, typhoons and torrential rain that caused fatal landslides and floods.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 12, 2018
Kanji of the year, meaning 'disaster,' symbolizes 2018 amid natural and human calamities
The kanji sai (災, disaster) was picked as the Chinese character best describing this year's social mood in Japan, amid a string of natural and man-made calamities, a Kyoto-based kanji promotion organization announced Wednesday.
JAPAN
Dec 11, 2018
Panel proposes mass evacuation of central and western coastal areas if Nankai Trough quake hits Japan
A government council on anti-disaster measures proposed Tuesday that all residents of central and western coastal areas of the country should evacuate if the region is hit by a massive earthquake that is likely to occur in the next 30 years.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 10, 2018
July-September GDP downgraded to 2.5% annualized contraction, government data shows
Japan's economy shrank at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in the July-September quarter, downgraded to the sharpest contraction in more than four years as a string of natural disasters weighed on capital expenditure, government data showed Monday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 3, 2018
Japan's capital spending slowed in July-September quarter following natural disasters
Companies' capital spending slowed in the July-September quarter following a string of natural disasters that weighed on economic activity, government data showed Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 3, 2018
Japanese weather observatories shift to forecasting snow over shorter spans
Weather observatories are shifting toward providing snow forecasts for shorter time frames, hoping to better accommodate sudden weather changes and prevent disasters and traffic disruptions.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 2, 2018
Japan's government to earmark ¥1.15 trillion for infrastructure in second extra budget
The move to strengthen infrastructure follows a string of natural disasters earlier this year.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 28, 2018
Japanese firm launches ready-to-eat 'emergency rice' in the Philippines
A Japanese ready-to-eat rice-maker held an event Tuesday in the Philippines to formally introduce the market to its Rice-to-Go product, intended mainly for use in emergency and disaster situations.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 28, 2018
Osaka to launch smartphone app providing disaster info for foreign tourists ahead of Expo
A government bureau in Osaka is set to launch a service next year to that will allow foreign tourists to access disaster information via smartphones, ahead of the 2025 World Expo in the city.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 26, 2018
Health ministers from Japan, China and South Korea agree to cooperate amid major natural disasters
The health ministers of Japan, China and South Korea agreed Sunday to cooperate so that their countries can maintain proper medical services even if they are hit by a massive natural disaster.

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals