I mainly study Chinese but work in Japan. Now with the earthquake it have been an challenging time. There is a lot of information given by everyone all the time but that do not help me since I do not know much Japanese. But, since I do at least know how to read a fairly OK number of characters I have been able to get out of the area, back to Tokyo, get my gear etc. Amazing how much usefulness there is in being able to understand this. The week before this they forced me in to an earth quake training session for new tenants. All in Japanese. Luckily for me they also did have the info on paper and I did understand enough of that to get my emergency gear set and what to do. Probably missed a lot of information too but some info is better than none. A lot of foreigners are stuck around the country since they do not know any Japanese and can't figure out how to get to the shelters, buses etc. Never thought it should be this vital to learn Chinese. Guess I will spend even more time Skrittering now. Better pick up Japanese more seriously too. Thank you Skitter, this app have been and will be my best my tool on the quest to master Chinese.

Good to hear! Were you in one of the badly affected areas when it happened?

I where close to Fukushima so we felt the quake badly but did manage to leave the area before the Tsunami. In Tokyo now but there is still a big worry about the three nuclear reactors they have problem with. Two of them without enough cooling. I think they just informed that there is a (great?) risk for a core meltdown. well, I am a fatalist, what happens happens.

@Mandarinboy I'm glad to hear you and your family are safe.

I'm imagining an Indiana-Jones-style dash away from a giant wave, with Mandarinboy holding onto his hat and quickly reading the Chinese characters off of the Japanese signs to guide his brilliant escape. Nice!

Good luck with the rest of the aftermath. Hope you don't need to use your emergency kanji interpretation skills much more.

It's good to know you're safe, @MandarinBoy.

The situation is so scary. Wish you all the best.
Esther

2012...

I feel lucky that I only got the eathquake and not the tsunami or radiation.