Just a comment

Fickle finger of fate:  We were planning to be in Japan on or about last week....but life happened and we postponed until next fall.  It's crazy how you can send a friend in Tokyo an email (just hours before the earthquake) asking about where to stay, what to do, etc in Japan without a thought on your mind what was going to happen.
The next morning.  The NEWS.
The next day.  An email from our friend:

Dear Chris,  It is so nice to hear from you. I hope you are doing well. We just had a terrible quake in  This quake shook the entire Tokyo into a state of emergency. All the railways stopped their service and there was an explosion at a nuclear plant in Fukushima two hundred miles north of Tokyo. My wife, Saya, was on the 42nd floor of her company and had to walk down the stairs to the ground floor because of malfunction of the elevators in the building. I was walking my golden retriever when the quake hit Yamato city.  I felt like I was in a washing machine with my dog. That was the biggest quake I have ever had in my life. The Tokyo tower was found to be crooked. All of my appointments with patients today were cancelled. All the main traffic in Tokyo is still paralyzed. It was like we were in some kind of a scary movie. Fortunately there is not a scratch on mea nd my family, as well as my properties.   As to a nice hotel,  my recommendation is Grand Hyatt Tokyo. Mark stayed at this hotel in January and Ben and his colleagues also stayed at this nice hotel. It is located in the heart of downtown Tokyo. I will show you around Tokyo including my office. Just let me know when your trip to Tokyo will be.  My best, Yoshi

That was March 12.  3 days ago.  It's different there now.
Here's a link to a heartfelt response to this tragedy:  Ruth Reichle.  I like it, I think she sums it up lovely.