#0737: Japan's Emperor Akihito is making a televised address to the nation.

[jannyk]

#
0737: Japan's Emperor Akihito is making a televised address to the nation.

#
0739: "I pray for the safety of as many people as possible" - Emperor Akihito.

#
0745: These are the first public comments from the emperor since Friday's earthquake and tsunami. It's very rare for him to make such appearances. He says he's "deeply worried" after an earthquake he describes as "unprecedented in scale".

I've been wondering where he was. He had to have said more than that! Can someone tell us what he said - please

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698

[Hannah Bell]

1. here: loosely translated live by yokoso news

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x658968

also i missed a few parts cause i couldn;'t type fast enough

[jannyk]

Thank you

[Skip_In_Boulder]

2. So does this now mean the situation is desperate? n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. It is unique

[Skip_In_Boulder]

5. I did just hear them say on the BBC feed

that panic is now starting to set in in Tokyo.

[hlthe2b]

6. I have to agree with the impression that his appearance...

makes the situation seem quite ominous or desperate as you say. Certainly hope to be wrong.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

9. I did not see the speech and as of yet I can't find a video of it. n/t

[Hannah Bell]

12. no, it's not so unique as bbc is making out.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=658968&mesg_id=659088

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x658968#659058

[hlthe2b]

16. Good... Glad to see some perspective on this...

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. This is NOT good

the Emperor VERY RARELY adresses the people.

Remember, in Japan the sense of honor is still present.... as in the fictional Daisho

[rainbow4321]

7. Yeah, I just posed that question in another thread

His speech almost comes across as kinda ominous...like he knows what is coming so he better speak to the people now.

[kristopher]

15. It is. He is warning them to be prepared and the significance is profound.

[Hannah Bell]

14. the japanese emperor regularly addresses the people.

for example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjfcjz1uBos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwQ5sDTbgPE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QeL9wVMfUc&feature=related

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Holy shit

(All times are local in Japan GMT+9)

4:45pm
Reporting on the humanitarian crisis following Japan's twin disaster, Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett reports that "The worst affected areas are largely north of Fukushima, and with the prevailing winds heading south and eastwards, which means that there are not, so far, too many fears of high levels of radiation, in that part of the country.

"So the very large scale rescue effort continues, we have seen huge convoys of military vehicles, fire engines, ambulances, moving around that area.

"And out there are efforts to try to get food and water and fuel to people out there who are stranded.

"But it has really been dwarfed by the scale of what happened, there are many people who are very much cut off and earlier on Wednesday there was a lot of snow in the area as well.

"And an indication of just how short people are of supplies, having lost their homes and their entire towns in some instances, they have been boiling that snow water for drinking water."

-------------

These people are drinking water that could have crap

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. CNN blog

<3:44 a.m. ET Wednesday, 4:44 p.m. Wednesday in Tokyo> Japan Emperor Akihito told his nation to not give up hope and said the hearts of the international community were with Japan, in a rare, nationally televised address.

Emperor Akihito called Japan's earthquake and tsunami an unprecedented incident, saying the scope of the death toll is still unknown. However, the emperor's remarks focused on comforting a nation reeling from the disaster.

Emperor Akihito said he cares deeply for the Japanese people and was moved by his people's calm and order. He said in this kind of emergency, "We need to understand and help each other."

The emperor also said he was deeply grateful for the help from the international community and that the imperial household had received messages from all over the world that "their hearts are with us."

Akihito addressed the nation on national TV, a rare event that only occurs in times of war or national crisis.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/16/japan-quake-live-blog-death-toll-expected-to-rise-as-crews-reach-more-areas/

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. CNN blog

<3:44 a.m. ET Wednesday, 4:44 p.m. Wednesday in Tokyo> Japan Emperor Akihito told his nation to not give up hope and said the hearts of the international community were with Japan, in a rare, nationally televised address.

Emperor Akihito called Japan's earthquake and tsunami an unprecedented incident, saying the scope of the death toll is still unknown. However, the emperor's remarks focused on comforting a nation reeling from the disaster.

Emperor Akihito said he cares deeply for the Japanese people and was moved by his people's calm and order. He said in this kind of emergency, "We need to understand and help each other."

The emperor also said he was deeply grateful for the help from the international community and that the imperial household had received messages from all over the world that "their hearts are with us."

Akihito addressed the nation on national TV, a rare event that only occurs in times of war or national crisis.


http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/16/japan-quake-live-blog-death-toll-expected-to-rise-as-crews-reach-more-areas/

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. here for Emperor Akihito's speech

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7474165.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Day crew this is HISTORIC