Cars are parked for export at a port in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo. Japan’s industrial production rose 1 percent in March from February, led by output of automobiles, notebook computers, and communications equipment. Cars account for 24 percent of total Japanese exports to the United States. PHOTO: AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye
The U.S.-Japanese Relationship by the Numbers — PICTURES
PHOTO OF THE DAY: A member of the public video records a hearing on Tuesday of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee about the recent events at the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi reactor complex. The reactor was badly damaged in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and Japanese officials are working to regain control of the disaster as problems continue to cascade. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Vice President Joe Biden signs a book of condolence for the victims of last month’s 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in Japan as Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki looks on in the Japanese Embassy’s Old Residence on Tuesday in Washington. Japan continues to deal with the aftermath of the natural disaster, including the possible meltdown of a crippled nuclear reactor on the northwest coast where the tsunami wreaked havoc. U.S. U.S. Navy Adm. Robert Willard said that 450 military radiological and disaster management experts are on standby in the U.S. for possible movement to Japan. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Statement from Col. Dave Lapan, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense:
Tonight, the Department of State has authorized the voluntary departure (including relocation of safe areas within Japan) for family members and dependents of U.S. government officials who wish to leave Northeast Japan. The U.S. government is also working to facilitate the departure of private American citizens from the affected areas (50 mile radius of the Fukushima reactor) and a Travel Warning containing detailed information has been issued and is available at www.travel.state.gov.
U.S. forces remain in Japan and the U.S. has full capability to fulfill our alliance commitments to defend Japan and maintain peace and security in the region. The Department of Defense will implement the Dept of State-approved voluntary departure for eligible DoD dependents. As with State Dept dependents, these measures are temporary, and dependents will return when the situation is resolved. Eligible DoD dependents will be given travel instructions by their local commands.
Direct queries on this announcement to the Dept. of State. We will update you on DoD plans in the coming days.
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Chieko Chiba walks through the rubble after going to see her destroyed home on Wednesday in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck offshore on March 11, triggering a tsunami wave of up to 10 meters which engulfed large parts of northeastern Japan. As the death toll continues to rise, the country is also struggling to contain a potential nuclear meltdown after a number of nuclear reactors were seriously damaged from the quake. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
MIT NSE Nuclear Information Hub
A great resource with up-to-date information about the stricken nuclear reactors in Japan.
A Japanese home is adrift in the Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy Photo via @msnbcDayside.
Trivia Time!
What senator formerly spent three years living and studying in Japan?
UPDATE, 12:00 p.m.: cubicmetaphysics is correct. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.
Guess what’s on the federal government’s chopping block? A tsunami warning system that came in handy yesterday.
