To this, I have to laugh.
My Canadian neighbors to the east of Toronto - in Newfoundland - are just now digging out of a blizzard that hit last Friday, with winds at 110 kilometers per hour, power outtages, with 47 centimeters of snow in St. John's. Parts of the Avalon Peninsula received anywhere from 25 to 55 centimeters of snow by the afternoon, with higher amounts likely in some areas, Environment Canada said.
Now that's a snow storm. Tokyo - that's just some guy with a bit of dandruff.
Of course - Toronto, where I sit right now - It was 9C on Sunday. There is now snow on the ground anymore.
According to Japan's Meteorological Agency, the snow that sprinkled on Tokyo arrived six days earlier than in 2012, and also 11 days later the average.
I find it shocking that such a light dusting of snow has caused even a 10 minute delay of the Shinkansen bullet trains, as I saw those things never arrive anything but on time in the three years there - less once for a F5 typhoon that caused a 30-minute delay and a full-page apology in the newspapers. Of course... that was 20 years ago. Maybe Japan is getting soft.
ANA (All Nippon Airways) cancelled 116 domestic flights as of 2PM Local Time - putting 24,000 passengers back into the already crowded airport.
JAL (Japan Airlines) cancelled 193 domestic flights, affecting 31,000 passengers.
Tokyo... it's called snowplows. Surely you have those at Narita Airport. Surely you have the capability to de-ice wings.
Yeesh.
Look.. I used to laugh at places like Florida having to close down after 5-centimeters (2-inches) of snow - but Florida isn't really a place where snow is expected to hit.
Tokyo, however...
Oh well... I suspect that along with the snow, some nasty winds also hit Tokyo, as some ares of the Kanto and Koshin regions (the mountainous areas) are expecting up to 50 centimeters of snow.
Now that's a snow storm.
Okay... I've been giving it to Tokyo a bit here - but that's only because I live in do-inaka (the boondocks) when in Japan.
I am giving it to Tokyo because the panic began just as the snowstorm started. The real snowstorm is just ramping up. A lot of snow is expected to fall on Tokyo.
In fact, as of 8PM Local Time, at least 400 people in Tokyo and nearby prefectures have sustained snow-related injuries, according to public broadcaster NHK.
I will assume that to be traffic accidents and the odd slip and fall.
About 675 flights were cancelled - mainly at Tokyo's Haneda Airport - where two of the four runways have been closed while they work hard to remove the snow.
The East Japan Railway Company also suspended all train service on two of its lines between Tokyo and neighboring prefectures.
And, parts of the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway network - linking Tokyo and neighboring prefectures were also closed.
It looks like this is a good time to be a hotel owner, as thousands of businessmen will probably be stuck downtown... although... it was a national holiday... Coming of Age Day, in which the Japanese youth celebrate their turning 20-years-of age this year.
Here's a YouTube video of what's going on in Tokyo.
As you can see from the video, what is the worst is the damn music blaring from speakers trying to make the people in the winter mood. They don't need the help. It's snowing.
Actually, as you can see from the cars - they are bloody tiny! There's little clearance for the undercarriage to pass over the snow. As well, I wonder just how many have snow or all-weather tires, and are instead relying on summer tires.
It looks bad in some places, not so bad in others... but really... if you don't have to be out - stay home.
Damn Japan and its necessity to work.
Good luck, folks!
Cheers
Andrew Joseph
The top photo was photographed spectacularly by Yuya Shino / Reuters
0 comments:
Post a Comment