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
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
ダイサギ
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, 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 Garden
Five‐storied pagoda
Peony Garden
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
Amazake ; a sweet drink made from fermented rice
Dango ; Three Colored Dumplings
Kashipan ; sweet bread
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.
公衆衛生ネットワーク
Public Health Network in Japan
