"You've been in Japan too long when NHK warnings about landslides,heavy rains,other disaster make you feel reassured that someone is benevolently watching over you"NHK is Japan's public broadcasting network, essentially a clone of the BBC,aside from giving us things like Domo-kun they provide news,culture, the best samurai dramas around.They're also at the center of Japan's rather extensive Emergency Warning System which provide information on earthquake other natural disasters.After tragic earthquake in Chile,there was fear that large tsunami might strike Japan,all day long NHK and the other TV stations displayed large warning graphic telling people to avoid the sea,When the wave finally hit,it was just 30 cm high,which caused anger among Japan's otaku on who weren't happy about having their favorite anime series "marred" by a large map of Japan taking up half the screen.Television stations weren't the only ones well prepared for disasters.When I got in my car that day,my G.P.S warned me, "An emergency situation has been declared.Please drive your car to safe location immediately" I felt like I was in SF story.Qunli