March 16 - Update

From what I could tell from my convenience store survey this morning, there are still empty shelves.  To the left is the same store I took pictures of yesterday.  You can see some boxed lunches still available. 

As for the local grocery store, best be close to first in line when it opens.  They allow 30 or 40 people in at a time then others can come in as the first group leaves.  Milk, eggs, bread, rice.. all go quickly.   By mid-afternoon shelves were once again bare.

Restock of convenience stores is happening regularly and this truck had the shelves full again when I came back a few hours later.  People have been requested to stop hoarding, but there still seems to be a lot of it going on.  




On the way to work today (about a 20km commute by bike), traffic was significantly off.  Much more like a slow weekend's traffic than a weekday. This picture is the same area that had traffic backed up for miles yesterday.  Today... deserted.    




Gas is in short supply.  The only stations that had gas yesterday were closed today.  The only station I found on my commute that had gas (this Eneos station), also had a long line of cars waiting.  Police stationed at the intersection to direct traffic.







Otherwise, it is a gorgeous day today and this baseball team is out taking advantage of it as they practice along the Tama River.

 The sun came out and shone brilliantly from the clouds.
 

And plum trees are blossoming.   Promises of the coming spring.  The cherry blossoms this year will take on a special significance. 

Reminders to anyone who can, the Red Cross is helping out in Sendai and can use donations.   Those people have little food and shelter and it is now snowing.