Japan Disaster: Americans stay despite threat of danger
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Tens of thousands of Americans live in Tokyo, but the experience of last year’s magnitude 9 earthquake and nuclear meltdown, has changed the way many of them live.
There was minimal damage in Tokyo, but hundreds of miles away the Fukushima Nuclear plant had a meltdown. It spewed radiation and some of it reached Tokyo.
Many Americans left Japan but then returned. They say by taking precautions, they’re safe.
“Even now, I have my earthquake backpacks really close. They are not next to the front door, but we definitely have them,” Libby Hopkins, from Chicago, said.
Former New York Resident Jon Omori said he’s still very concerned about radiation. So, his family moved to New York City a year ago while he remained in Tokyo to work.
“You get very, very lonely. I think the girls miss me. I miss the girls and my wife. Fortunately we have Skype and face time,” Omori said.
The government and scientists in Japan say they believe a major earthquake is going to hit Tokyo in the near future, and with some 13 million people residing, it’s projected more than 10,000 people could be killed.
Lance Lee is president of the Tokyo American Club. He says he’s not concerned.
“If there was going to be a natural disaster anywhere in the world, I would rather be here because the Japanese people know how to handle themselves. There’s a calmness about Japanese people,” He said.
Americans living there say they feel the same way. They say it’s a great place to raise a family.