A somber update

I'm sorry I haven't made some "official" comment until now, but as you can imagine, things are pretty crazy here. It has a very 9/11 feel to it, which, unfortunately, I was all to close to when it occurred. Here in Tokyo, nobody really knows what's happening, we see the same images that people are seeing in New York, London and Rome. We are fearful of what might happen with the nuclear reactors and how that might affect the nation, worried that a large new earthquake is imminent, and rumors of new disasters swirl and spin. And our hearts ache as we see interviews of people who can't find loved ones, lost homes and have seen their hometowns disappear before their eyes. All I can do is to soldier on, keep my shops running, and offer people a bowl of comforting ramen and hope it gives them a mild respite from all that is going on. Many of the Tokyo ramen shop owners are meeting next week to come up with a concrete way to help the survivors, possibly trucking up food to feed those in need. Until then, around town all the shops are taking up collections, and using as little electricity as possible to help the city deal with what is now an inadequate supply. We're strong here in Japan and will keep on keeping on. I've passed on to my Japanese friends the outpouring of support and distress felt by my fellow Americans and they were truly moved. Thank you for all the emails and phone calls and continued thoughts and prayers. Ivan