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Genpatsu-shinsai: the language of disaster that is stalking Japan (From The Times, July 21, 2007)
The Times ^ | July 21, 2007 | Leo Lewis

Posted on 03/14/2011 9:24:51 PM PDT by SteveH

Japan’s turbulent history of war and natural catastrophe has already given the world a terrifying vocabulary of death: tsunami, kamikaze, Hiroshima.

But the country now stands on the brink of unleashing its most chilling phrase yet: genpatsu-shinsai – the combination of an earthquake and nuclear meltdown capable of destroying millions of lives and bringing a nation to its knees.

The phrase, derived from the Japanese words for “nuclear power” and “quake disaster”, is the creation of Katsuhiko Ishibashi, Japan’s leading seismologist and one of the Government’s top advisers on nuclear-quake safety. He said that the world may never know how close it came to its first genpatsu-shinsai this week. Luck, as much an anything else, helped to avert it.

A 6.8 magnitude quake, which shook Niigata on Monday and left thousands of homes uninhabitable, was three times more powerful than the designers of the nearest nuclear power plant – Kashiwazaki-Kariwa – had prepared for, or even imagined.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Japan; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bwr; doom; genpatsushinsai; kashiwazakikariwa; ohnoes; yawn

1 posted on 03/14/2011 9:24:56 PM PDT by SteveH
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To: SteveH

Of the potential nuclear ‘disasters’ going on in Japan - each one is probable no worse (and will get no worse) than the 1979 Three Mile Island incident... And please remember - there were no deaths form TMI nor any large numbers of radiation sickness after...

But the Liberal / Left Wing media want to ramp it up to stab any aspect of Nuclear Energy in the Heart - nothing more - nothing less...

Plus the situation in Japan is totally colored by the horrible specter of a simultaneous earthquake and Tsunami ... without witch ... the story would be much different...


2 posted on 03/14/2011 9:34:34 PM PDT by ICCtheWay
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To: ICCtheWay

Everyone should read the blog on this crisis written by Josef Oehman at MIT

Explanations of nuclear reactors and the present crisis in layman’s terms and a clear-headed style

http://mitnse.com/


3 posted on 03/14/2011 9:41:44 PM PDT by PGR88 (I'm so open-minded my brains fell out)
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To: SteveH; maikeru; Dr. Marten; Eric in the Ozarks; Al Gator; snowsislander; sushiman; ...
原発震災 : genpatsu shinsai

A quake there, he said, could smash the reactor and send a radioactive cloud over Tokyo within eight hours: “We would be looking at 24 million victims and the end for Japan.”

An eruption of Mt. Fuji could send an ash cloud over Tokyo within 8 hours. So let's shut down Mt. Fuji.

日本*ピング* (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)

4 posted on 03/14/2011 9:42:59 PM PDT by DTogo (High time to bring back the Sons of Liberty !!)
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To: PGR88

I’ve read it - thus the basis for my comments


5 posted on 03/14/2011 9:47:48 PM PDT by ICCtheWay
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To: PGR88
bkmk

http://mitnse.com/

6 posted on 03/14/2011 9:48:19 PM PDT by csense
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To: PGR88; Alamo-Girl; Amityschild; AngieGal; AnimalLover; Ann de IL; aposiopetic; aragorn; auggy; ...

THANKS THANKS.

Sanity and horse sense are wise at this time.

http://mitnse.com/

MIT NSE Nuclear Information Hub (http://web.mit.edu/nse/)


7 posted on 03/14/2011 9:49:55 PM PDT by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
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To: SteveH; Candor7
"genpatsu-shinsai "

But how will it take form as "daikaiju?"
8 posted on 03/14/2011 10:10:33 PM PDT by shibumi (Proudly and boldly posting without reading either the article or comments!)
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To: ICCtheWay

Even Godzilla is tired of the media scaremongering.

"A toy robot!" "Aggghh!!!" "A toy robot?" "Eat lead, sucker!"

9 posted on 03/14/2011 10:13:30 PM PDT by anymouse (God didn't write this sitcom we call life, he's just the critic.)
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To: SteveH

Kamikaze means divine wind.

Historically, it was the name given to the wind that destroyed an invasion fleet from China that saved Japan in their ancient history. It was from there it eventually was used during WWII for the suicide pilots.

It was a term of destruction for enemies.


10 posted on 03/14/2011 10:23:43 PM PDT by TruthConquers ( Delendae sunt publicae scholae)
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To: TruthConquers
Historically, it was the name given to the wind that destroyed an invasion fleet from China that saved Japan in their ancient history.

Hat tip to Nichiren Daishonin, the Japanese monk who history says was leading the prayers to wipe out the Manchurians.

Some good news, for people and pets:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1366155/Japan-earthquake-survivor-reunited-baby-daughter--tsunami-warning-sounds.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703363904576200571710073008.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLTopStories

I'm thinking genpatsu-shinsai would be a most excellent screen name. In a twisted Monty Pythonish sort of way.

11 posted on 03/14/2011 10:55:38 PM PDT by West Texas Chuck ("Do right, and risk the consequences." - Sam Houston)
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To: DTogo
So let's shut down Mt. Fuji.

So where is the hysteria over the tsunami walls that were not tall enough?

The local TV here (Seattle area) ran a "what if" story last night on a tsunami hitting Seattle. Lots of animation and breathless narration. Then a seismologist came on and said "in all of history, recorded or not, nothing like this has ever happened in Puget Sound and is very unlikely. To which the idiot talking head added "But you never know".

Just heard that iodine tablets are selling here as fast as the pharmacies can stock the shelves.

12 posted on 03/14/2011 11:35:37 PM PDT by llevrok (SEIU? STFU.)
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To: SteveH

“Hiroshima”

Sod off, you pommy git.


13 posted on 03/15/2011 1:27:34 AM PDT by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: dsc

“Just heard that iodine tablets are selling here as fast as the pharmacies can stock the shelves.”

Oy vey. And those people are allowed to vote.


14 posted on 03/15/2011 1:29:03 AM PDT by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: llevrok

Investigative reporting?

http://www.pnsn.org/HAZARDS/CASCADIA/cascadia_event.html

Has happened many times before and is due for another.


15 posted on 03/15/2011 4:26:19 AM PDT by wolfcreek (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsd7DGqVSIc)
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To: SteveH

Bush’s fault. . .


16 posted on 03/15/2011 9:35:58 AM PDT by Twinkie ( PEACE)
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To: DTogo
An eruption of Mt. Fuji could send an ash cloud over Tokyo within 8 hours. So let's shut down Mt. Fuji.

That's a little out of our power. Let's go the easy route then and evacuate Tokyo. Now. Just in case...

17 posted on 03/15/2011 1:42:37 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY ("The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen." -Dennis Prager)
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To: GATOR NAVY
That's a little out of our power. Let's go the easy route then and evacuate Tokyo. Now. Just in case...

C'mon, if we can control the earth's climate by limiting CO2 emissions, the UN can think of some way to tax us and stop volcanic eruptions. ;^)

18 posted on 03/15/2011 5:35:53 PM PDT by DTogo (High time to bring back the Sons of Liberty !!)
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