2015年5月26日火曜日

Biological monitoring in Tokyo, Japan (May 26, 2015)

Biological monitoring at Botan Park of Ueno Toshogu shrine in Tokyo, Japan

 I visited Botan Park (Peony Garden) of Ueno Toshogu shrine in Tokyo to see biological impacts of Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant accident. Though I have visited various places in Japan to see the health consequences of the accident, I have never found any effect against creatures in Japan.
 Toshogu means “light of the east” and refers to 200 shrines build across Japan to enshrine the deified spirit of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan from 1603-1868.
 The Ueno Toshogu was said to have been created for the convenience of the Daimyo who, at the time, were required to spend 6 months in Edo and expected to pay their respects to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Daimyo was a title given to the top lords of the Tokugawa period. So, in Winter and Spring you can experience the tranquil beauty of the Botan Park (Peony Garden) of Ueno Toshogu shrine.
 Generally speaking, plant's growth is so fast than human beings that they are more sensitive to radioactive materials of the environment than us. So I visited Botan Park of Ueno Toshogu to see effects of the accident against creatures which are grown up by Japanese food and water. 
 Fortunately, I could see them grown up safely and I couldn't find any impact of the accident. It seems that there is no problem for childbirth and child-rearing in Tokyo Japan.
Posted by Yoshitaka Kiriake from Japan on May 26, 2015.


東京都台東区の上野東照宮ぼたん苑では春になるとボタン祭りが開催され、様々な品種のぼたんを鑑賞することが出来ます。今年も綺麗なボタンを見ることが出来ました。近くにある不忍池ではカワセミやダイサギが魚を捕っていました。



Peony
Peony
Peonies are originally from China and have been used in herbal medicine for centuries. In this peony garden you can find many kinds of blooms.




Peony Garden is near the Shinobazu Pond where we can see many beautiful birds eating river fish.

カワセミ
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
Alcedo atthis
ダイサギ
Great Egret
Great Egret
カワセミとダイサギは東京都台東区の不忍池で撮影
Google map



These pictures were taken on April, 2015.


Ueno Toshogu Shrine
Ueno Toshogu Shrine
 Ueno Toshogu Shrine, in Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo, underwent major renovation in 1651 by order of the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. The heavily gilded and splendid main building is also known as the shrine of gold. Having survived the calamities such as wars and earthquakes that followed and retained its features from the Edo period, the precious structure is designated a Cultural Property of Japan.


Google map
About Ueno Toshogu shrine


Peony
Peony
Peony


Peony Garden
Peony Garden
Peony Garden

Five‐storied pagoda
Five‐storied pagoda

Peony Garden
Peony Garden
Peony Garden
Peony Garden
Peony Garden
Peony Garden
Peony Garden

Peony
Peony
Peony
Peony
Peony
Peony
Peony
Peony
Peony
Peony
Peony
Peony
Peony

Japanese foods are good and safe.
Because of stricter food safety law by Japanese government, we have no worry about foods.

Matcha ; powdered green tea
Matcha

Amazake ; a sweet drink made from fermented rice
Dango ; Three Colored Dumplings
Amazake and Dango

Kashipan ; sweet bread
Kashipan ; sweet bread



 About 4 years have passed since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. I have visited various places of Japan to see the health consequence of the accident.
 Fortunately I have never found any impacts by the accident among Japanese creatures. As far as I know, nobody has health problem which is caused by the accident in Japan.
 Our Prime Minister Abe assures that "The situation is under control. The influence of the contaminated water is completely blocked within Fukushima. There are no health-related problems until now and there will never be health problems." He also said that "Tokyo is 250 kilometers away from Fukushima, and the kind of danger that you imagine does not exist in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very safe city."
 As PM Abe said, Tokyo is very far away from Fukushima, people in Tokyo have no concern about the nuclear power plant accident. People in Tokyo have already forgotten the accident, because they think radioactive materials cannot reach there.
 We know there is no problem for childbirth and child rearing in Tokyo. So people in Tokyo are living without any concern about the accident.
 I continue to visit various places in Japan to see the effects of the accident, because I can meet various creatures which are more sensitive to radioactive materials from the environment. It is important to see their health for our safety.




Public Health Network in Japan
公衆衛生ネットワーク
Public Health Network in Japan

2015年5月19日火曜日

Biological monitoring at Honolulu Zoo on March 2015

Biological monitoring at Honolulu Zoo

 I visited Honolulu Zoo to see biological impacts of Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant accident. Though I have visited various places in the world to see the health consequences of the accident, I have never found any effect against creatures living there. However, there is a little concern that radioactive materials will be brought to overseas by the wind or ocean current. So we have to see the effects against overseas too.
 The Honolulu Zoo is Located between the slopes of Diamond Head and Waikiki at the corner of Kapahulu Avenue and Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii.
 The mission of the Honolulu Zoo is to inspire the stewardship of our living world by providing meaningful experiences to the guests. The Zoo emphasizes Pacific Tropical ecosystems and the values of caring and hospitality.
 The Zoo is 42 acres and home to 905 different animals from the tropics. Komodo Dragons, orang-utans, elephants, primates, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and a variety of African animals can be seen daily. It is the wildest place in Waikiki.
 Generally speaking, animal's growths are so fast than human beings that they are more sensitive to radioactive materials of the environment than us. So I visited  Honolulu Zoo to see effects of the accident against creatures which are grown up by Hawaiian food and water.  Fortunately, I could see them grown up safely and I couldn't find any impact of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. It seems that there is no problem for childbirth and child-rearing in Hawaii, USA.
Posted by Yoshitaka Kiriake from Japan on May 19, 2015.



米国オアフ島にあるホノルル動物園の広大な敷地では、自然に近い状態で多数の動物たちが暮らしている。貴重な熱帯動物が多数展示されており、Siamang Gibbon, Gharial, Marabou Stork, Golden Lion Tamarinなど日本では見る機会の少ない動物を見ることが出来た。


These pictures were taken on March, 2015.


White-Handed Gibbon
Hylobates lar
Hylobates lar

Siamang Gibbon
Symphalangus syndactylus
Symphalangus syndactylus

Black-Handed Spider Monkey
Ateles geoffroyi
Ateles geoffroyi

Honolulu Zoo
Honolulu Zoo

Google map

Plumeria
Plumeria

Ring-tailed Lemur
Lemur catta
Lemur catta

Orangutan
Orangutan

Francois's Langur
Trachypithecus francoisi
Trachypithecus francoisi

Black Swan
Cygnus atratus
Cygnus atratus

American White Ibis
Eudocimus albus
Eudocimus albus

Green Peafowl
Green Peafowl

African Spoonbill
Platalea alba
Platalea alba

Sacred Ibis
Threskiornis aethiopicus
Threskiornis aethiopicus

Grey Crowned Crane
Balearica regulorum
Balearica regulorum

Ostrich
Struthio camelus
Struthio camelus

Marabou Stork
Leptoptilos crumeniferus
Leptoptilos crumeniferus

Sun Conure
Aratinga solstitialis
Aratinga solstitialis

Nicobar Pigeon
Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica
Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica

Gharial
Gharial

Indian Elephant
Indian Elephant

Reticulated Giraffe
Reticulated Giraffe

Plains Zebra
Equus burchelli
Equus burchelli

African Crested Porcupine
Hystrix cristata
Hystrix cristata

Lion
Panthera leo
Panthera leo

Hamadryas Baboon
Papio hamadryas
Papio hamadryas

Fennec Fox
vulpes zerda
vulpes zerda

Black Rhinoceros
Diceros bicornis
Diceros bicornis

African Hunting Dog
Lycaon pictus
Lycaon pictus

Cheetah
Cheetah

Galapagos Tortoise
Geochelone elephantopus
Geochelone elephantopus

Komodo Dragon
Varanus komodoensis
Varanus komodoensis
How big Komodo Dragon is !
How big Komodo Dragon is !


Golden Lion Tamarin
Leontopithecus rosalia
Leontopithecus rosalia

Waikiki beach
Waikiki beach

Beautiful hula dancers
Beautiful hula dancers



Hawaiian foods are good and safe.
No one have any worry about foods.

Cake
Cake

Fruits
Fruits

Fruits and salad
Fruits and salad


 About 4 years have passed since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. I have visited various places of Japan to see the health consequence of the accident.
 Fortunately I have never found any impacts by the accident among Japanese creatures. As far as I know, nobody has health problem which is caused by the accident in Japan.
 Our Prime Minister Abe assures that "The situation is under control. The influence of the contaminated water is completely blocked within Fukushima. There are no health-related problems until now and there will never be health problems." He also said that "Tokyo is 250 kilometers away from Fukushima, and the kind of danger that you imagine does not exist in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very safe city."
 As PM Abe said, Hawaii is very far away from Fukushima too, people in Hawaii have no concern about the nuclear power plant accident. Hawaiian people have already forgotten the accident, because they think radioactive materials cannot reach there.
 We know there is no problem for child birth and child rearing in Hawaii, USA. So Hawaiian people are living without any concern about the accident. I continue to visit various places in the world to see the effects of the accident, because I can meet various creatures which are more sensitive to radioactive materials from the environment. It is important to see their health for our safety.





Public Health Network in Japan
公衆衛生ネットワーク
Public Health Network in Japan