For everyone outside Japan: Just a quick note about the big earthquake that happened yesterday at 16:10 local time. It was on the Sea of Japan coastal area, Shindo 7 on the Japan scale, as big as the 2011 quake on the Pacific side. We felt some shaking here in Tokyo, but very minor compared to the events in the Kanazawa, Toyama, Niigata areas. Tsunami of up to 5m hit the coast (2011 waves were twice as big), some buildings collapsed, some burnt, but overall casualties are thankfully far fewer than 2011.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant is on the coast, but currently not operating (I believe). Ironically, that power station is the basis for one I described in my Mamoribito novel, hence my additional interest in the events of yesterday.

Ongoing aftershocks are still hitting the area, so are Tsunami as the waves reflect back off the Korea/ Russia coastlines.

The emergency evacuation warnings are still in place, and the rescue services are now searching for those trapped. If anything further happens I'll let you know, but I expect you are all already following events in the news as it is.
Kevin