In the midst of the tragic disaster up North, we’ve been barraged with calls and emails from all over the world wondering how we are. We, like basically everyone in Japan, are doing well (all things considered).
Life is certainly different with restrictions on power and limited trains, but if you watch international news you’d think that ALL of Japan is underwater and suffering. Miyagi and Iwate are the center of it all, while we are basically experiencing minor inconveniences. This is important to remember.
With the foreign press blowing everything up beyond reality, and the Japanese press allowing the government to keep us in the dark, the truth is somewhere in between. Regardless, we all still have to live and keep going.
So, we went out today to take some photos of people doing their best to live normally, and not staying at home watching television. This is the best we can do as human beings, especially being in a helpless situation as far as the North is concerned. If you have any more images of the positive side of Japanese life at this time, in any part of the country, and would like them added to the roster, please contact us.
All of these photos were taken today in Tokyo. Somehow, life goes on.
A stocked convenience store and ATM stand ready to serve.
Beer and package deliveries go on as normal.
A family picnics and plays in Yoyogi Park.
Restaurants serve. People eat.
Shibuya Crossing’s famous screens have gone dark to save power, but there’s still life below them.
Ramen shop staff greet customers.
While there’s a noticeable decrease in prepared food, there’s still enough in stock, and this guy has a seemingly infinite choice of beverages to wash it down.
A performer captivates his small, but mesmerized audience.
In Soviet Russia, menu chooses YOU!
Oblivious to the possibility of causing another quake, these kids jump rope in Yoyogi Park.
Takeshita Street in Harajuku is generally open, with even a bit of bustle.
The situation is never so bad you can’t tease your brother.
Love blossoms.
A couple buys crêpes and enjoys the day.
We’ll keep you all updated as necessary. Japan will be back in no time.
Michael is CEO and Co-Founder of the 
Lovely pics, nice see things going on, despite network news, keep on duty!!
i’m glad some parts in Japan are still doing great. Hope the other parts recover soon. :)
Happy to see that!
If I were them, i would go as far south as i could get, as long there is time to do that.
Cute captions espec the kids rope-jumping one. Thanks for posting this.
Thank you for this, great post and lovely pictures. All my thoughts and love for those who are still suffering in Japan.
Yakov Smirnoff ftw!
Read of your blog over at lewrockwell. Great pics! Said to the wife, one thing we can be sure of in Japan, there will be plenty of good photos and videos! Nice to also see the other side, where life continues as normal.
There was a link on Lew’s site about how the radiation leaks aren’t likely to be as bad as the media make out. Lets hope that’s right.
All the best then and stay safe!
Thanks for posting this. I hope that all of Japan can get back to normal soon.
“If I were them, i would go as far south as i could get, as long there is time to do that.”
Tokyo is pretty much on the south coast, would have to travel to the far west to get significantly further south.
Remember, meltdown horror stories sell papers
My friends in Tokyo assure me that the situation in the capital is quite normal, and not so dire as the news try to depict it. For more photos of Tokyo, try to browse kirainet.com, where an Spanish engineer show us Japan, and he explains how he sees this times in the city.
I live in Saitama right outside of Tokyo and we are also doing well. We were shaken about a bit, but nothing serious.
In fact, as near as I can tell, the only thing causing trouble in our area is the uncertainty about when and if power will be cut off and when and if the trains will be running. This has led to runs on grocery stores and on supplies like batteries. If they (TEPCO) say they’re going to cut off power to an area, they need to go ahead and cut power to the area. Don’t leave us, and the train lines, guessing. Once people see empty grocery stores and gas stations and start to feel trapped, they will start to panic and the veneer of civility (which strips off in fights for discount bags and the last seat on the train) will fall off completely.
People often complain or assert about the “passivity” of the Japanese. It is often forgotten how resourceful and resilient the culture and population is.
The Prime Minister recently compared the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami to the crisis that faced the country at the end of WW2. Well, less than two decades after that calamity, which saw almost all major cities destroyed, millions dead and occupation by foreign armies, Japan had developed one the greatest trains in the world and hosted the Tokyo Olympics. Tohoku and Japan will rise again.
Thank you. This is every bit as important to get out there as the images from up north. Excellent, excellent work!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS INFORMATION. I was very worried because I have a friend in Yokohama, I couldnt get her on the phone. She doesn’t use the internet, and her eyes are ill, so I was very worried because of the information. I’ve cried a lot these days. Thank you very much. I’m much more relax now
http://www.unodior.blogspot.com (I can’t write it on the website square)
Hi Michael,
been thinking of you… glad to see such a clear sign that you are well. look forward to an opportunity to reconnect.
Warm regards, matthias
Hi Michael!
Great to se u are well and pushing people forward! Hope things calm down soon, and so we will promote your challenge through our net, ok?
As u know, we’ve got the second biggest japanese community out of Japan of the world!
hope seeing u soon.
Thanks for this. The news in America is absolutely insane and it’s good to know things are still okay over in Japan (excluding the north).
It’s one of the richest nations on earth whose experienced natural disasters before and has learned how to handle them. I for one, didn’t expect everyone over there to panic and go hiding under a rock.
Western news stations are having a field day with it all as if the country is going the way of Atlantis.
lovely pictures btw
great report and even greater comments…good to see not everyone stopped thinking;-)
What a breath of fresh air. Here in the U.S. the media is just so sensationalist that it is hard to get straight news. Great pics, thanks for sharing. Be well.
After grieving for Japan’s loss over the past few days, this brings me relief & some joy. I’m glad to see that people moving on with grace & order- smiling, enduring, not forgetting to live life first no matter what the circumstance. Thanks for posting this and making my morning bit brighter. :)
Thats what u col life ; when u got to go you got to go; when you got to die you got to die….
J – jump
A – and
P – pump
A – all
N – night.
God bless ;-)
It’s a very serious time for Japan. They’ve even made a carton to explain it to young kids “Nuclear Reactor Boy has a tummy ache”
http://www.japansugoi.com/wordpress/cartoon-explaining-the-fukushima-nuclear-reactor-problem-to-kids/
Thank you so much for keeping ups posted and for this uplifting note. I love Tokyo and these images make me so happy. We feel for all of you of course as the earth’s citizens and we share in your sorrow; yet we know that life will continue and it’s always good to hear that there is minimal impact in normal lives around where things happened.
We are heading to Tokyo April 7th and this was worth knowing. Please update it again so we know how things are this second week after.
@Upstate Rob
Rob, come to Tokyo. You have nothing to fear.
Guanbareee Nihon!!!!! We’re always with you!