今日（18日）は比較的暖かかったが、
ここ3日ほど雪が続いて、真冬並みの寒さ。

It was rather a warmer day among these
few days. It snowed for three days and
it got very cold like mid winter.

海外の友人から電話があった。
何度目かでやっと通じたという。
しばらく日本を離れて、こちらに来たら
どうか、というお話もでた。
ありがとうございます。

海外のニュースでは、今はもっぱら原発の
ことがメインになっているらしい。地震と津波の
災害の事が余り伝えられていないので、
様子が良く分からないという事も
あって、だいじょうぶなのかと
地震以来2度目の電話であった。

その原発の状況も、何で爆発が続いたり
事態が深刻化しているのか、その理由が
よく分からないという事であった。
昨日のシンガポールの友人もその点を
質問していたな。国内では、報道によってようやく事態が
少しずつ分かってきたような気がするが。

では、最悪どうなるのか。

I had a call from one of my friends overseas.
He said he got through to me after a few trials.
He offered me to come to stay at his house for time
being. Thank you very much. But it seems safe in
our area according to the information so far.

He said the news about current disaster in Japan
now centered the nuclear power plant problems and
those about the earthquake and tsunami especially about
the life of sufferers were not reported enough. Therefore
he was not able to get the situation in Japan enough.
He was worrying about me because of the lack of information
and called me for the second time.

He said also that he did not have information about the
series of explosion and the deepening seriousness at the
nuclear power plant. Meanwhile, I have come to all the way
understand to some extent about the situation in Fukushima.

But then what is the worst scenario that could happen?

シンガポールの友人から電話があった。
安否を問うメールには、自分も葡萄も無事だと
伝えていたのだが、連日報道される被害の余りの大きさに
心配して電話してきたようだ。

彼は、地震の当日は香港にいてタイムズスクエアに
ある大画面で、ＮＨＫの画像がライブとして
映されていて驚いたといっていた。まるで映画を
見ているようだったと。その後ホテルに戻り
ずっとテレビでライブをみていたと。

11日午後のあの様子がライブで世界中に
送られていたのか。

I received a call from a friend in Sigapore.
I replied to his earlier e-mail about my safety and
my vines by saying that all were fine in Suzaka.
But he wanted to talk to me directly because the
disastrous scenes were shown on the TV everyday.

He said he had been in Hong Kong on the day of the
earthquake and was shocked at the NHK live scenes shown
on the big screen at the Times Square there. He thought it was
a movie scene. Then he returned to the hotel and kept watching
the TV live.

All of the Tsunami disaster was broadcasted on TV all over the
world on that day.

次々に大変な事態が明らかになっていますね。
原発も非常に深刻なことになってしまっています。
亡くなられた方、被災者の方々には心よりお悔やみを
申し上げます。どうか一人でもご無事でとお祈り
申し上げます。今はそれしか出来ないので申し訳ない。

長野県北部でも震度6強という地震が今朝ありました。
明け方近くに何度か強い揺れがあり、またその後も
余震を時々感じます。ただ、須坂近辺は落ち着いています。
震度もさほど強くなかったようです。
ご心配くださった皆様、ありがとうございます。

One by one, serious damages have been broadcasted which
remind us of the devastating power of nature. The nuclear power plant
have been seriously damaged and they seem to start running beyond
human control.

I cannot help but pray for the casualties with deep condolence and hope
the safety of the sufferers. I feel sorry because I cannot do anything other than
doing so.

We had strong earthquake of the intensity 6 here in Nagano early
this morning for a few times followed by the continuous aftershocks.
However, we had little damage in Suzaka and it seemed that we did
not have serious damages around here. I thank you for the messages
and contacts by worrying us. Thank you very much again.

大変な事になっています。
特に東北と関東地域の方々のご無事を
お祈り申し上げます。

画面ではショッキングな映像が
流れています。寒さもあり体調崩されぬ様に
お過ごし下さいと、祈ることしかできなくて。

It is a terrible earth quake and the tsunami
devastated many towns and villages.
I pray for the safety of the people in Tohoku
and Kanto area which suffered very seriously.

The TV shows many shocking scenes which look
as if they were in the movies. As it gets colder now,
please take good care of your self.