email from another Japanese friend:

[trof]

Captain Xxxx

Thank you for your kindness.We are all safety family,relatives,friends.
Huge disaster earthquake,tsunami(tidal waves),nuclear-power plants broken suffered an immeasurable amount damage.
Now especially we scare nuclear problem. Tsunami gave hard damage to cooling systems.
Presently Japan military and Tokyo firefighting crew team are discharging much much water to plant-houses.
The temperature slowly comes down and I think the situation is getting better slowly.
We are all OK .
Xxxx SAN You have a Peaceful day together.
Thank you again for your kindness.
Hidenori Hiraide

[ensho]

1. decades ago I corresponded with a Japanese man who was an esteemed

judge of Akita dogs and who bred them and used them for hunting in the mountains of Akita Prefecture.

and I wonder about his family during these awful times in Japan.

he was very nice and taught me alot about the Akita dog.

I send loving thoughts to his family.

[trof]

2. I've offered 'sanctuary' to my friends there.

To come and stay with us until things 'settle down', if they ever do.
No takers.
They prefer to stay and deal with it.