Okinawa Weather on 30th July
👋 Haisai! I’m CULT.
Today, there was quite a significant issue regarding the tsunami in Okinawa, wasn’t there? However, Okinawa is quite far from the Kamchatka Peninsula, and historically, it has experienced more tsunami damage than earthquakes from the mainland. Therefore, it is always well-prepared for tsunamis. The police and lifeguards were quite busy today, but it was just a peaceful day in Okinawa. I’m not sure about the east coast, but the west coast was peaceful, with just slightly higher waves.
Okinawa Weather Video
Here’s a summary of today’s weather in Okinawa. There’s a mention of waves in the middle, and while it might not seem like much, it’s the first time I’ve seen such high waves on the west coast of Okinawa. Those waves usually feel like the east coast of Okinawa, as the west coast is typically calm. Seeing it firsthand made me realise the impact of the earthquake on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
How to Get to American Village
Today, I’m on my way to the American Village for an Okinawa snap schedule. I stopped by a convenience store to grab an energy drink, and as I was turning left, I received a message on my smartphone. It was a tsunami warning. I found it quite puzzling because the typhoon had already passed, and there hadn’t been any earthquakes, so I was wondering what it was about.
On the way to American Village, I received about three emergency disaster alerts. It seemed quite serious, so I pulled over to check what was happening. It turned out there was an earthquake on the Kamchatka Peninsula, and a tsunami was heading towards the Japanese mainland. Logically, unless it’s an asteroid collision level event, it’s unlikely a tsunami would reach Okinawa’s west coast. However, given the fuss, it did seem somewhat serious.
The shoot today starts at 11 a.m., but I was sitting in a café, continuously monitoring if anything was happening. Such beautiful and wonderful weather, and yet a tsunami? A Starbucks employee informed me that if a tsunami comes, we should go up to the second floor of the Aeon Mall over there. It seems that the evacuation spot around here is that Aeon Mall.
In Korea, buildings are constructed to either eliminate or hide columns, but in Japan, buildings have a lot of columns. I suppose they are all built that way because of disasters?
I initially planned to work at Starbucks, but I ended up just monitoring the tsunami situation. I ordered a cold brew… After sitting in the café for about 10 minutes, I was asked to leave by a Starbucks employee. They told me they weren’t open for business and directed me to the second floor of the Aeon Mall.
I went to Aeon Mall and kept an eye on the situation… They said there wouldn’t be any impact on Okinawa, so I headed to the meeting place. People seemed just as usual.
Due to the tsunami issue in Okinawa, Starbucks… closed its doors. However, it reopened around 12:30 PM.
No Tsunami Damage in Okinawa
All beaches and activities in Okinawa have been prohibited. Even access near the beaches is restricted. That’s why lifeguards are stationed to prevent anyone from approaching the beach. The waves visible in the sea are quite abnormal. Such high waves shouldn’t be possible here. Seeing it with my own eyes, I realised that a tsunami in Okinawa is indeed a reality. It’s fascinating that an earthquake thousands of kilometres away can have an impact here.
However, the northern part of Okinawa is protected by the Yanbaru Mountains, so earthquakes or tsunamis originating from the mainland don’t directly affect it. This can be considered an advantage of Okinawa.
Rather than earthquakes from the mainland or the north, it is the frequent underwater earthquakes between Taiwan and Okinawa that cause tsunamis, which are said to inflict the most damage on Okinawa. Consequently, there are numerous high breakwaters installed off the coast of Naha, to a rather significant extent.
Anyway, the Okinawa snap shoot was successfully completed. It was surprising that the wind wasn’t as strong as expected. I’ve never seen waves like that before, but when you can visibly see the waves crashing, it usually means the wind is quite strong in Okinawa. It made me realise, this is what a natural disaster feels like…
Peaceful Okinawa
Okinawa has returned to peace.
Although there are aftershocks and the possibility of further tsunamis, there have been no more disaster alerts, and there are no reports of any damage. Additionally, the tsunami warning has now been lifted.
The areas marked in yellow are those where a tsunami warning was issued. It has now been lifted. [Source: Yahoo Japan]
After finishing the shoot, I took a moment to snap some photos for introducing American Village. A light drizzle has started to fall.
Today, I’m pondering over what to have for lunch. I always need to be prepared when it comes to the best places to eat in American Village, but unfortunately, it’s Wednesday, and most of the popular spots are closed. So, I ended up having sata andagi.
The rain is getting quite heavy at times. Depo Island feels somewhat like an amusement park.
The Okinawa tsunami is still a tsunami… but it’s still hot. On hot days, zenzai is the way to go. Zenzai is delicious 😀
After having a meal and getting ready to head home, the drizzle continues to fall. It was a time when an umbrella was needed.
For a Wednesday… there were quite a lot of tourists, and perhaps due to the tsunami, the second-floor café was bustling. It was almost impossible to find a seat.
Before heading back, I visit the beach once more. As expected, the lifeguard is restricting access. This photo was taken from as far away as possible using a telephoto lens.
Even though it was a summer day, people were generally dressed lightly. Personally, it didn’t feel unbearably hot. It’s probably much hotter in Korea than in Okinawa right now.
I’ve been curious for a while now, but there was a plane equipped with what looked like sensors flying in circles over American Village. I wondered if the plane was malfunctioning and couldn’t land, so I took a closer look. It seemed like it was scanning near the sea.
The rain has paused for a moment. Still, the blue sky is beautiful.
I was driving home, and the DMB was continuously broadcasting live updates about the tsunami. There wasn’t any news about something collapsing or being destroyed. You might think that a 40cm tsunami isn’t much, but the concept of a tsunami is different from that of a wave. A wave is just seawater coming in, whereas a tsunami is almost like a solid wave. At 40cm, an adult male wouldn’t be able to stand. The moment you fall, it’s a one-way ticket to the afterlife.
I just popped over to Big Camera to check something out, but it’s filled with only unpopular items.
I’m in the elevator heading home after finishing all the shooting schedules today. Well… my career seems more messy than glamorous.
I popped out briefly to buy a drink in the evening, and the drizzle was still coming down.
This evening comes to a close with refreshing bibim noodles 😀
Anyway, it was quite a tiring day due to the Okinawa tsunami issue.
Tomorrow, I have two Okinawa snap shoots in the north, and the weather is expected to be fantastic. I’ll capture the stunning scenery of the north and bring you the Okinawa weather update. Matayasai 👋
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