Frustrations from the Overlooked in Japan

Written by Hanako Tokita
 

While the eyes of the media and the rest of Japan have been glued to developments in the Tohoku region, cries for help from other disaster areas have not received as much attention. The coasts of northeastern Kanto were hit hard by the massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Ibaraki Prefecture, where the tsunami swallowed up several of its coastal towns, has had 19 earthquake related casualties. The Kashima industrial complex, one of the largest industrial areas in Japan, was severely affected. 16 deaths have been confirmed in Chiba Prefecture, 11 of which were tsunami victims in the northeastern coast, and 7 people are still missing. 11,332 people in Ibaraki and 806 people in Chiba are taking shelter in evacuation centers.

Katsuta Station, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture. Photo: Courtesy of Twitter user yu_u1163

On Twitter, many people are starting to express their frustration about the lack of coverage and information from these areas.

@daniel_ktg 【お願い】茨城・千葉・栃木・長野・新潟の状況が全然入ってきていません。被害状況・安否情報・避難所・給水所・物資支援状況等もっと報道して下さい！視聴率稼ぎの報道ではなく、伝えるべきことを伝えて下さい。本当にお願いします。#nhk #ntv #tvasahi #tbs #fujitv

@an_y27 津波、原発も大事です。でもほとんど報道されてない被災地域もあるんだよ。茨城の状況とか千葉の断水とか全然聞かないのはどうして？

@deeploveP 千葉、茨城は被災地なのに、東北程に目を向けられてない。メディアもドキュメントだったり 助かったやったー的な報道、それからどの局も原発。それよりも現地の炊き出しの状況や空いてる避難所などの情報を流すべきなんじゃないだろうか。でも今のこの状況で、どうやったらこの意見は届く…？

A giant whirlpool created by tsunami off the coast of Oarai, Ibaraki

Some also raised their concerns about the blackout planned for March 14, which would affect the disaster-hit areas.

@masalogs 【お願い】計画停電の対象から被災地の茨城県を外して下さい。特に、茨城の県北地区は、いまだ停電・断水が続いており、配給物資も乏しく、危険な状態です。至急、展開願います。#ibaraki #jishin #nhk #ntv #tbs #fujitv #tvasahi #tvtokyo

@micron052 東京電力さん。銚子、旭市は被災地です。ライフイン全滅の地区もあります。停電する地域を考えて下さい。NHKさんも報道お願い致します。#nhk

@yorumiya 避難もできずにいる南三陸町を故郷と呼ぶ僕は、やっぱ り我がままだと解りつつそちらの救助を優先して貰いたい。切実に。でも、栃木や茨城を無視しろとは絶対に言わない。その辺の地域は停電の対象から外すべき だ。被災地を停電させるくらいなら23区を30分単位で停電させろよ。

Footage of tsunami-hit Asahi, Chiba Prefecture

As the major source of electricity for the Kanto region was lost in the earthquake and the production of electricity significantly decreased, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced that rolling blackouts would be implemented in the Kanto and surrounding region in order to suppress electricity supply.
After much confusion, at 17:00 on March 14, electricity was cut off in selected areas. TEPCO initially announced that the power outage would be carried out only in parts of Ibaraki and Shizuoka. But in fact, other areas in the Kanto regions, including those hit by the earthquake and tsunami, such as Asahi, where 11 people died and a few are still missing, were also included.

@ecconeko 今、旭市の親戚宅。17時ちょうどから停電始まってます。 被災地なのに電気止められちゃうの？って感じ。 水道も復旧してないのに･･･(´ï½¥ω･｀)

@reyrey551 NHKだと茨城と静岡の一部って言ってたが今千葉テレビ見ると香取市は停電で旭市と銚子市も停電みたいだが

@kabu_frog kabu 茨城県鹿嶋で停電してる！潮来市も神栖市もだ！ここは報道されてないけど被害結構あったから止めてくれ！

@no9_halu 【公式RT希望】都心を停電させないために、津波の被災地であり未だ余震の続く茨城県や千葉県の沿岸地域（鹿嶋や銚子など）が計画停電中。何か矛盾していませんか？

TEPCO later officially apologized for including disaster centers in the blackout areas, stating that it had not taken into consideration the disaster situation. Another rolling power outage was implemented on March 15, but the disaster areas were excluded this time.

This post is part of our special coverage Japan Earthquake 2011.

Tweets were translated by Tomoko Tsuchiya and Chris Salzberg.