For a while, there has been talk of a large earthquake predicted in the area of Japan where I live, Tokai. My students were very serious when they told me that thousands of people would die and that buildings would be destroyed. It's referred to as the "Tokai Dai Jishin".
Well, some psychic has predicted that it will happen this coming Saturday. Honestly, I wouldn't have thought that people would give much credence to the report.
I was wrong.
I've heard a few people talking about concerns for their plans for that day because "the earthquake will happen." I've even heard of a dance class that was cancelled purely because of the earthquake prediction.
Personally, I don't believe it will happen, but just to be on the safe side, cross your fingers for me.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
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9 comments:
Huwaaa～t!? This Saturday?!
B-But, that's my birthday! I don't want people (in the thousands!) to die on my birthday...!
That would be the worst birthday ever.
And here I was planning to cook my cheesy tuna in white sauce pasta and invite my friends over for dinner... my first birthday in Japan...
Aaugghhh huhuhu～!!
I believe psychic behavior has merit, but I don't believe it's a precise instrument. I think it's reading things in foggy, blurry mirrors and reaching the conclusion that you want to reach. I think anything is possible, but I don't believe specific predictions like that because I believe the instrument (the psychic) almost always distorts the message.
Ironically, I wrote a post this morning related to expectations influencing mass events. It'll seem like I'm a bit of a loony, of course, but that's okay. :-)
Anyway, the crux of what I wrote was that, the more people believe they will be okay, the h igher the likelihood that they will be so keep believing nothing will happen.
I'd confidently wager against it. Tell your students I'll take the other side of any bet they care to offer :-)
Whatever happens this Saturday planning for an earthquake is not a bad idea.
Do you have a plan?
I have my passport, shoes, and clothes in an accessible place in my apartment. If one happens when I'm out I figure I'll still have my wallet with ID and money and a phone and of course be fully clothed.
K
Thanks for the comments everyone! I don't think it will happen, but funnily enough, thought I should backup my computer and put my harddrive somewhere other than my apartment just to be safe (I should be doing that anyway...)
Hey Megane-kun - Happy Birthday for Saturday. Don't worry, I'm sure nothing bad is going to happen then :)
Hey Orchid - I believe that your last paragraph is true, so I'm sticking to the "nothing is going to happen" idea. Actually, to be honest, the reason I don't think the earthquake is going to happen is because I just don't feel like anything bad is going to happen to me or my friends.
Hey Chris - I agree
Hey Tamakikat - No, I have to confess, I don't have a plan. Mmm.. maybe I should have a general plan for anytime just in case.
So is there a large exodus of people from the area? If so, then the trains and buses will be wide open.
My prediction is always, "It could happen any day at any time..." so I always try to be prepared! I think it's a good clue if you start worrying about that kind of prediction that you're not as prepared as you should be. But how funny that people are actually canceling things because of the prediction!
Earthquakes really scare me about the idea of living in Japan.
The government prediction is that the next major Tokyo earthquake will cause 15,000 casualties. If this comes true, I think it will be a major blessing. It sounds terrible to say that, but looking at the crowded trains and all the high buildings, I can't help feeling it could be a lot worse.
However Japan's earthquake precautions are the best in the world.
Keep an earthquake survival kit nearby, containing bottled water, some iron rations, an electric torch and first aid things.
I hope it will not happen but best to be prepared.
Hey Tornadoes - No, I haven't heard of anyone leaving. Public transport is still as full as ever...
Hey Fujimama - yeh, sadly, I think it will happen someday, so being prepared for anytime is a good idea. Actually, a friend told me that most Japanese won't sleep naked in the fear that an earthquake will happen in the middle of the night and find them unclothed.
Hey rmilner - it's horrible to think that anyone would die, so the more than can be done to reduce the number the better.
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