Disaster in Japan

[nefrekeptah]

I'm sure that everyone has heard the news by now; there's been an earthquake in Japan. The worst earthquake to ever hit Japan, as a matter of fact, and the 5th worst in recorded history. And to make things even better, it also triggered a massive tsunami. Rough reports have said that the death toll so far is well over two thousand and quite possibly over ten thousand.

So I'm posting two links here; first, an ongoing tally of artists and creators in anime, manga and other forms of entertainment who have checked in via twitter and other social networking sites to let their fans know they're all right: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-11/anime/manga/game-industry-members-check-in-after-quake

The second is an article about what various manga-ka are doing to help with relief, and several links to organizations you can support to also help in the reconstruction: http://manga.about.com/b/2011/03/13/japan-earthquake-relief-manga-artists-share-hope-help.htm

If this is too long, I'll put it behind the cut.

Comments

[psychopathicus_rex]

It's a terrible disaster, all right. My heart goes out to the people of Japan and what they're going through - but I must say, I'm also worried about the aftereffects of all this. If there IS a nuclear meltdown, it won't just affect the citizens of Japan, it'll be something for everyone who lives in or near the Pacific to worry about. Here's hoping that DOESN'T come to pass, because it would be bad for everybody.

[stolisomancer]

Here is a useful FAQ concerning just what happened at Fukushima and why it is not China Syndrome.

[psychopathicus_rex]

As it happens, I'd already been reassured of that, but thanks anyway. It's good to know that disaster isn't right around the corner.

[savok]

There is no meltdown, it's not even a technical term. The nuclear reaction was stopped the instant the quake began. The problem has been cooling since the tsunami knocked out all their backup generators (backup to it was a battery, it ran it for the 8 hours it had juice for, we're currently on the backup backup backup with seawater and boron). There's no "new" heat being made, just what's being produced by the radiation decaying which is giving them a hell of a problem.

Worst case possible, the whole thing is built in a sarcophagus, they just seal it up and wait for the heat to die down. It will not flood America with radioactive death like the media would have you believe.

Also punch anyone who compares it to Chernobyl, that was a runaway nuclear reaction because it was designed by idiots and run by idiots. This plant just withstood an earthquake 7 times stronger then it was designed to, bravo to the engineers on that one... maybe less so the tsunami knocking everything out.

Lastly you missed a 0, at least 10,000 dead it seems, unless that's a media beat-up as well.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Well, THAT'S good to hear. (I mean, not that there IS still a problem, or the extra none thousand dead or anything - that's all awful - but it's good to know that I don't have to add radiation suits to my wardrobe.)

[arilou_skiff]

There's about 1,500 confirmed dead, about 2,000 bodies were found recently but haven't been counted yet, about 10,000 people are still missing (and the longer it takes the less the chance of them being found alive)

[skalja]

The National Police Agency has officially confirmed 3,373 people dead, 1,990 injured, and 7,558 missing across sixteen prefectures.These numbers are expected to significantly increase, with casualties expected to reach tens of thousands.

Prefectural officials and the Kyodo News Agency, quoting local officials, said that 9,500 people from Minamisanriku in Miyagi Prefecture—about a half of the town's population—were unaccounted for. NHK has reported that the death toll in Iwate Prefecture alone may reach 10,000. (Wikipedia, which has links to all the sources too.)

So way more than 10,000 people missing. There are no words.

Not Chernobyl

[nefrekeptah]

Thank you for the clarifications, I went ahead and edited the post to be more accurate. One change I was glad to make, and the other - was a little hard to write, to be honest.

[savok]

Just to update what I said earlier, things have decided to get a lot worse quite suddenly. 4's on fire (though currently only the outer building) something went boom in 2, no one knows what and radiation levels have left micro measurements and entered milli, which is quite bad (though not run around screaming bad... yet).

[janegray]

Thank you for the link. I wanted to donate something, but I heard that a lot of "help Japan" funds are scams. Japansociety seems legitimate.

It's really impressive how disasters bring out the best and the worst in people. On the one hand, all these artists working so hard to help the helpless. On the other hand, soulless scum stealing from desperate people who have lost everything.

Seriously, how can anybody bring themselves to steal from disaster victims? How?

[omnipotent]

My thoughts exactly. I want to donate something, so I'll try Japansociety.

[janegray]

Why isn't Hiromu Arakawa (author of Fullmetal Alchemist) in the tally? O_o

[curlyjo1]

I see a few names missing. Kinda scary.

[pizoxuat]

I think their list is mostly going off of social networking. My favorite manga author doesn't seem to use any of the twitterfacespace variations available so he's not showing up on any lists, but no one is making depressing fanart on pixiv yet, so I am assuming that nothing has happened to him.

Assume the best

[nefrekeptah]

I like your way of thinking.

Also, may I ask who you're favorite manga author is?

Re: Assume the best

[pizoxuat]

Fukumoto Nobuyuki. Got me with the Kaiji and Akagi anime adaptations and found myself just devouring everything of his that I could find translated. Another favorite of mine,Q Hayashida, hasn't checked in either, but no one is making art of the cast of Dorohedoro in mourning yet.

[kosaginolegion]

I'm really hoping that, too, because Yabuki Kentaro has not yet been heard from, as far as I can tell.

[octopedingenue]

Is there a list somewhere of those mangaka who do have depressing fanart on pixiv now? D:

[pizoxuat]

https://spreadsheets.google.com/lv?authkey=CMuhlv8M&hl=en&key=tb1NuX_VLWlneqTKA7zcJsg&authkey=CMuhlv8M&hl=en&f=true&gid=1

This is the best resource I've seen in English. No one is confirmed dead yet, but there's lots of folks no one has heard from yet.

[octopedingenue]

I made it a fourth of the way down the "unconfirmed" list before I had to stop reading or start hyperventilating. There are too many artists whose worlds I love concentrated on one tiny earthquakey island. D:

So, so glad to see so many names on the "confirmed safe" list already, though.

And that Yoko Kanno song totally made me tear up. Be you, be safe, Japan!

[greenmask]

Oh, Japan

Get better soon. Everybody loves you.

[nightauditguy]

It's damn depressing hearing about everything happening in Japan. Toss in the recent news about the volcano and you wonder if things can get any worse.

[crinos]

*Slams head against desk*

NEVER! SAY! THOSE! WORDS!

[stolisomancer]

This just in: a meteor made of hatred and influenza has broken through the atmosphere and is heading straight for Tokyo Tower. More news as events develop...

[proteus_lives]

This just in: Four spectral horsemen have been seen riding in from Tokyo Bay.

[thokstar]

This just in: the radiation plus the earthquake has caused Godzilla to pay a visit to Japan.

(Or is that too obvious?)

[curlyjo1]

I was thinking this sounds like the prologue to too many post-apocalyptic animes.

[proteus_lives]

Motto.

Jesus, just don't say it.

[proteus_lives]

All vibes and good feelings toward the people of Japan.