Ringing in the Year of the Dragon with a Roar

Had not intended on a generic Happy New Year to everyone, but since I haven’t heard much about this from others on substack, the New Year Day news (as posted on my FB page) …

”Oh damn. A New Year's Day earthquake in Western Japan just hit a few minutes ago ... big enough to feel here in Tokyo, with NHK news predicting a tsunami of up to 5 meters. The NHK announcer is frantic, a panic in her voice calling for immediate evacuation of a large swath of Western Japan.

https://www.facebook.com/onscenenewsaustralia/posts/pfbid036u79fFWfwTUCECdaPZrH26Uy1ZAdEzSXN27SgVsAaA6LXQoG888xgEHKhdiDu4Cml?comment_id=1103563484335600&notif_id=1704099825635415&notif_t=comment_mention&ref=notif

Toyama / Ishikawa looks like they are really gonna get smacked, but the whole West Coast, from Kyushu to Hokkaido, is now being given a tsunami warning.

Now watching the cameras of sea side Ishikawa sway with after shocks in real time. And now, a bit after 5 and broadcasts of some fallen houses are starting to come in, along with what appears to be a tsunami wave pushing building debris upstream from what used to be a river. Soon to be dark, and especially difficult for the elderly to evacuate.

https://twitter.com/MEERYASIR0056/status/1741739291833999428?fbclid=IwAR0LqKkytEJlfOcgRdUoGQ54EPTSelusIEKg4q7H2837xmyZs68sV7cP0UY

Now 5:30, and seeing buildings beginning to burn.

Pushing 6:00 and so far, the largest tsunami appears to be only 1.2 meters, but it is coinciding with high tide. Probably will not know the extent of the damage until tomorrow morning's helicopter footage.

A bit worried about the nuclear plant at Kashiwazaki is predicted to get hit with a 40 cm wave. 🥺

X (Twitter) Japan has the most on-the-ground news and videos of the unfolding damage ... buckled roads, tsunami's churning up stream of rivers, drivers stranded and calling for help, etc.

As noted by one Japanese X post, the one good thing about the timing is that many of the younger people are back in their home towns for the holiday, and carrying the elderly to safety on their backs.

And thanks to buddy Tirion … an extremely interesting link …

And now day 2 of the New Year, when it rains, it pours …

With this reminder of how just how fragile we are, and how little ‘safety’ we can expect from the corporate nation-state, I wish you all a healthy and meaningful New Year.