Rev. Taka Talks about Mindfulness at TED x Kyoto

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Serious Damage in Western Japan Created by Travel Alert Issued by Foreign Government

Several governments issued their travel alter for Japan. But, some of those travel alert sounds like entire Japan is dangerous. This is not true. Western Japan is not affected by the earthquake, tsunami, and the nuclear power plant accident. Major airports in western Japan are normally functioning.

I send a email to the U.S. Department of Sate to change their travel alter for Japan. Also, my fellow members of the U.S. - Japan Leadership Program are helping me to send this message to the senior officials in the department. I am very thankful for them.


"On March 13th, 2011, the U.S. Department of State issued travel alert for Japan. But, this travel alert is creating serious economic damage in non-disaster areas in Japan due to the large number of travelers are canceling their travel to western Japan.

I've been talking with many hotels, travel agencies, and tourist attractions in Kyoto the last couple of days. All the businesses in Kyoto are getting tremendous loss. Kyoto's economy is hugely depended on tourism. And, March and April are in one of the most important time period in Kyoto in a year. But, due to the wrongfully stated travel alert, Kyoto and rest of western Japan are suffering.

The U.S. Department of State should reissue the travel alter for Japan. They should say;

"The Department of State requests all non-emergency official U.S. government personnel defer travel to northern and eastern Japan and urges U.S. citizens to avoid tourism and non-essential travel to northern and eastern Japan at this time. "

Unless the department modify the travel alert , the travel alter for Japan keeps creating serious damage in non-disaster area (western Japan). "

If western Japan (non - affected areas) get more economic damage, it slows down the recovery in northern and eastern area ( affected areas).

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