(Sorry for digressing off topic, but it appears Winterwalker was in ushima around the same time period as I was

)
I was based in Shirakawa, South of Koriyama City, but not far. Used to go to Koriyama to see a movie, nearest cinema and baseball practice! I go back a little further, came back in 2003, so don't think we were there at the same time but worked up the mountains in Nasu (doing falconry demonstrations, of all things random).
Though I missed the main Daichi event (and glad you managed to dodge the worst of that disaster) I do have a good story about the Japanese nuclear industry. On trip down to Tokyo Narita, had rare pleasure of picking up Japan Times newspaper in ENGLISH ... (bliss)
So, it seems these two jokers were creating solid fuel, from liquid nuclear something or other. Because it was Friday, and presumably the beer was calling, they decided they could finish early by doubling quantities in the mixer for the last batch of the day. Almost needless to say, doing this created a thermal critical mass and they blew the roof off the building !! .. (( haha )) .. Fortunately, on that occasion too, the wind took the cloud out to sea but I'm still giggling about that one, over a decade later!
Truly good times. Yoroshiku!
(Sorry for digressing off topic, but it appears Winterwalker was in ushima around the same time period as I was

)
I think it's fair to say that Japan (include South Korea too) is about as hi tech as it gets on Planet Earth? But still, vending machines are a big deal in Japan, and although the taxi doors open for you automatically, your driver wears white gloves. "Home James".