No upgrades on the flight this time, so crammed into 'tourist' class. Aircraft was quite full but I was lucky enough to have two empty seats next to mine. Arrived Narita exhausted without sleep and not relishing the NEX train into Tokyo as I usually fall asleep just before getting to Ikebukuro.

Everything seemed to be back to normal. However I noticed on the train that the Cooler was not on all the time and that every third or fourth lighting tube had been removed. Further into my visit I also noticed that there were less lights in the department stores and at some stations a selection of escalators had been shut down. Thermal underwear featured prominently in the stores but I have a feeling this is not unusual in Japan.

House building continues apace in Hibarigaoka despite the gloom and doom. (see image)

Sheila suggested we should try and go up to Tohoku and volunteer. I think she has been up there about three times so far, digging mud. There is anxiety in the area as winter approaches and the word has gone out for more warm clothing and heaters. Sheila promptly packed up her kotatsu and sent it up there much to the children's anguish! Time to buy a new one?

I arrived on a Thursday and had been invited by the Aikido group to attend a 'Gasshuku' (hope I've got that right) at the weekend in Ibaraki. To make things easier I had also been invited to Kitamura sensei's house in Ibaraki on the Friday night along with my pal Ted san (nickname). Ted and I travelled together up to Ibaraki along with another aikidoka Kameda san.
We first went to an Onsen which I love and then on to sensei's house. We were treated to Kitamura's wife's excellent cooking with a table heaving with food. I alone was given a special Autumn dish of rice with chestnuts which was wonderful. There followed a huge amount of drinking with sensei opening his favourite bottle of shochu. I attempted to entertain them with stories of 'Sensei I Have Known'. I have been studying Aikido for over thirty years so have met The Bad, The Mad, The Totally Insane, and the 'Good Ones'.

After a large lunch at a restaurant we finally began the practise at 2:00pm. By this time I was so tired and so very jet lagged I could hardly stand. I did my best to keep up but was regaled with "C'mon Graham san, wake up". Gradings took place and there were many happy faces. I was even invited to be partner to one of the members having a grading. I was stood down after about three minutes because I looked so tired!!!
At last we returned to the hotel which also had an Onsen but I sat this one out. I was so tired I couldn't nap. Finally the banquet!
A tatami room hired for two hours with a long low table. Tons of food, of course, and as much booze as we could drink. I switched to shochu fairly early as I don't have a huge capacity for beer. Speeches followed and I watched as the order slowly crept towards me! I did my best with Ted translating for me. We also took part in karaoke and there were some good 'artistes' in the group. I was very happy that everyone had a go. I did my usual Elvis impression which went well and I was invited back to do an encore (tee hee). At the end of two hours the junior members swept up the leftovers including the booze and we settled into someone's bedroom for the final discussion on the day's events. Don't remember much after that. The following day was more sober with everyone returning to their various homes. Obligatory photos outside the hotel, of course. All in all a great weekend but wished I hadn't been so jet-lagged.

I continued to go to the aikido club every Saturday so in the end we couldn't go up to Tohoku. Sheila was disappointed but we ran out of time. I went up to see Ted at his house in Kamakura and he made me feel very welcome. His wife cooked onomiyaki which is one of my favourite meals. Cooked on the hot plate.

Sheila and I also went to Kamakura to visit Rex, a close friend of Sheila's and also slightly eccentric.
He knew all the cheap places to eat in the town and we ate and drank in style without spending too much.

Sheila and I's big event was to take Rickshaw ride in Asakusa. This was a wedding present from the members of Kimono de Ginza. Originally this had been planned as a weekend away at an Onsen but because of the Tsunami it had to be cancelled. So, we got the rickshaw instead. It was very very kind of them and we thoroughly enjoyed it. (see pics).

Although everything in Japan seems as it should be there is still concern about Fukushima and places such as Ishinomaki. Tokyoites do not seem that concerned but Tohoku and other places in the region still need as many volunteers from around the world as they can get. Winter is approaching. I have to say I have met so many Americans who have volunteered but other countries are not so well represented.
I hope you will take this in good heart.
Graham

18 March set off for Tokyo via Amsterdam, 9.45 flight.
For some unknown reason upgraded to Business Class on an ancient 747 out of Amsterdam and for once tons of leg room, seat number 1A. Felt as though I was the pilot! The food, sadly, was the economy standard.
I managed to sleep for once.

19 March. Arrived Narita ahead of schedule, immigration and customs very quick as there were only about six foreigners on the flight. I had heard that the NEX was not operating its normal schedule but the Expressway was open so took the Limousine Bus to Ikebukuro. I’m always amazed that the luggage handlers speak some english and bow as the bus pulls out. The bus made Tokyo in 80 minutes, normally it takes at the very least 90. The Expressway had traffic but probably about fifty percent of what it might normally be. Fell asleep as we approached Sunshine City in Tokyo, this is normal for me, asleep at the moment I should be awake and ready to roll!
The commuter train on the Seibu Ikebukuro line was very busy but got a seat near the doors. Arrived Hibarigaoka about 12.00. Sheila’s house still standing. Checked out the Olympic grocery store on my way to the house and found shelves fairly well stocked.
Spent the afternoon trying to get over jet lag and listening to helicopters flying overhead departing from the American air base nearby.
Evening brought a violent tremor rattling the whole house, later to be confirmed as a 5 degree quake.
20 March, Sunday and a new dawn, been awake since three in the morning and the noise of a few flights from the airbase from about four o’clock. It’s a beautiful sunny day.
Slowly back into Japanese mode. Every moment thinking about those who have lost loved ones and fighting to contain their desperation and sorrow. Another tremor at lunchtime. Tokyo still feels like it is waiting for the big one. Out on the street not so many smiling conversations, people looking a bit dazed which is the way I feel but in my case its just the journey.
Afternoon spent trying to sleep and adjust to a new time warp. The sky is blue and the sun is fighting to dissolve the clouds which last night at three a.m. misted a full moon.
Later in the day went over to the CRASH team at CAJ (Christian Academy in Japan), Higashikurume, to deliver boiled rice which Sheila had been cooking for the volunteers. A crowded room full of lap tops and operators. Another school room full of boxes and blankets and other goods. A bit wobbly on my bike as I haven’t ridden it for a while especially with a big pot of rice on the front basket!!
Less helicopters today but the sound of ambulance sirens way off in the distance and the heavy, heavy drone of military aircraft flying with un-silenced exhausts.
The night is warm and all quiet and we wait for the news that all is well with our worst nightmare the nuclear reactor! We wait for the next tremor.

21 March. Cold today and raining. Took children to school with Sheila, library open for two hours and art class for three. No proper school just yet as some of the children have to commute and the trains are not running a full schedule just yet.
Very quiet around the streets of Hibarigaoka not sure whether it’s the weather or citizens staying in to avoid radiation. Plenty of supplies in the local grocery store almost back to normal. Some anxiety expressed in the Daily Yomiuri about milk and spinach from the area close to Fukushima. Tragic tales in the newspaper about people losing loved ones.
The rolling blackouts are frequently cancelled which perhaps indicates that everyone is being careful with electricity. Large swathes of neon have been switched off in areas such as Ginza and one of the banks has closed all of its ATMs to save power. The kerosene truck came round today which is a good sign.
Sheila and I visited the CRASH team at CAJ(Christian Academy in Japan) to pick up one of the volunteers who will be staying with us for a few weeks. Her name is Yumi a translator from Yokohama.
The streets are still relatively quiet but people continue to take their chances with the rail network and make every effort to get to work.
The grocery store is still using only half its strip lights and prices have risen slightly. Bread is restricted to one loaf per person. Despite wholesale fish prices taking a dive this is not reflected in the price of fish on the shelves. Raw fish for my lunch today.
We have been fortunate in not having any power cuts and I assume that this is because everyone is being careful with their electricity consumption. We have been told that there wont be any for the immediate future.
We continue to worry about the condition of the reactor in Fukushima.

14 April 2011
Another quake on Monday! Along the coast and its effect destroying some of the rebuilding work done in Saitama. The house once again rocked and rolled for what seemed a long time but probably about three minutes. Luckily the children were home from school as was Sheila. We all huddled in front of the TV watching images of the coast captured by the municipal cameras. The news channel also cut in the tsunami warning, a chilling experience, telling everyone along that part of the coast to run, basically. Fortunately within about half an hour the threat of a tsunami had passed, thank goodness.
The rumblings of the earth have continued on a daily basis.
The relief effort goes on with supplies gradually getting through to the worst hit areas. Shortages of underwear, sanitary towels and toilet paper continue in those areas and the volunteer groups are still needing translators and qualified drivers.

21 April 2011
The helicopters continue to clatter the air above! It doesn't help being close to an american airbase, of course. I like to imagine that they are flying to and fro to help with the aftermath of the disaster. But, who knows?
Our CRASH volunteers(a young american couple flown in from Thailand) have moved out as they have been offered an apartment above the CRASH nerve centre within CAJ school. It will be good for them to have some privacy and their own space. He has been promoted to deputy leader of the team. They have both been working at full capacity, usually twelve hour days. I have nothing but admiration for them.
Word came around that many elderly women have lost their everyday kimono to the tsunami. Sheila has gathered together some of her kimono to send to the co-ordinator who appealed for kimono to send out to the devastated region. Just as I feel most comfortable in a pair of jeans, I guess these ladies feel the same about their traditional dress. I hope they enjoy them and feel comforted.
The truth is gradually unfolding regarding Fukushima's reactors. We are now told that there has been a partial melt down of the core and they are still having to cool everything down and try and remove the contaminated water. I can't imagine the scale of the problem they are having to manage. I wonder how long it will be before everything is under control. I also wonder what the true situation is.
More volunteers still needed at CRASH!

9 May 2011
It was with great regret that I left Tokyo. I would have wished to stay to look after Sheila and the children. I was very happy to be there and it was a wrench to leave them. Not that I am a great hero as far as earthquakes and tsunami go. I hope I left with a smile!
Narita was almost deserted, a shadow of what I had come to expect. Took the bus from Tokurazawa to the airport and there were about eight people(japanese) on board and me. Its amazing that the bus service continues a regular schedule despite the lack of passengers. To my astonishment I was upgraded once again. It is tempting to book business class in the future but I doubt I could afford it. Too bad!
For those of you who have Google Earth you might be interested to know that they took pictures on the 6 April so its possible to see the devastation from up above. So much has gone and scary to think that only last year I was in Ishinomaki via Sendai.
The country is still very short of both translators and drivers. If any of you are thinking of going to make a contribution you can contact CRASH or the Peace Boat people. In the long term they still need money but short term it must be people with these skills. I feel useless as I cannot speak japanese and would be afraid of driving in Japan.
I am not sure how much I can write in the future now that I am back in the UK. I am hoping to post more pictures but not images of the devastation as there are so many available on the web.
Pray for all of those who have lost loved ones and volunteer if you have the skills they so desperately need volunteer.
Recovery will take a long long time.