Temblor

Is the term NHK (Japan's public broadcaster) uses for earthquake. At 6:08 this evening we had a magnitude 6.8 temblor off the east coast of Hokkaido. We had just started eating dinner (Mammy's delicious Butadon*) when we noticed our bowls shaking, then the table, floor and pretty quickly the whole house.

I think it says something about the cultural differences that infuse our mixed marriage that, while Cian and Sanae dived under the table, Daddy made a lunge for the computer and started tweeting and emailing and skypeing anybody who would listen (which turned out to consist solely of Mr. D - as always, my thanks to Meath's goateed wonder).

A tsunami warning was then issued for the Pacific side of Hokkaido and northern Honshu but as I type the only tsunami registered has been all of 10cm high, which begs the question as to how they can tell it is different from a normal wave.

There have been no reports of damage down Fukushima way but given the mendacity of TEPCO and the Japanese government over the last 12 months, I doubt they would tell us anyway.

Should there be any further developments, I will of course keep you informed. The you being Mr.D.

*a bowl of rice topped with thin sliced pork that has been simmered in a sweet sauce. It is one of the reasons why I am still living in Japan. That and the can't-look-away ongoing car crash that is the Irish economy.