Northern Japan got hit with a major earthquake on March 11, 2011. We felt it in Tokyo as well, and it was the worse earthquake I ever experienced. I was at home and rushed out as soon as it became clear it was a big one. My books, flat-panel TV, stereo speakers, etc., toppled over. Fortunately, no damage except for a few scratches on the TV. I’m alive and well.

The earthquake was also felt in Shiga Prefecture, but at a much lower intensity (magnitude 3 compared to magnitude 5 in Tokyo). It was just a little jiggle and no more in Shiga. No damage nor injuries reported in Shiga.

Your friends or family in Shiga are safe if they were here on the day of the quake.

I’m now in Shiga after getting tired of all the aftershocks in Tokyo. With scheduled power outages (rolling blackouts), canceled or stopped train lines, more aftershocks, and the ongoing nuclear power plant crisis, Tokyo is an unnerving place to be right now.

Philbert Ono