Japan — Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Crisis (2011)

Updated: Aug. 29, 2011

In August 2011, Japan’s governing Democratic Party elected Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda to become the next prime minister, choosing a relative political unknown to lead the nation’s recovery from the March tsunami and nuclear accident and revive its moribund economy.

Mr. Noda replaced Naoto Kan, who was seen as having failed to galvanize Japan after the disaster. This is not to say that Mr. Noda is guaranteed to succeed in the enormous challenges facing him of overseeing Japan’s recovery from the earthquake and tsunami, including the clean-up of radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, and addressing the long-term problems of two decades of economic stagnation, an aging population and the rise of neighboring China.

Mr. Noda offers a departure from Mr. Kan on the crucial issue of the future of nuclear energy. While Mr. Kan called for ending what he called Japan’s dependence on nuclear power, Mr. Noda has followed the business community in saying that Japan needs nuclear power to prevent electrical shortages that could further cripple its economy.

In foreign affairs, Mr. Noda has said he would maintain close ties with Washington, and support an existing deal to keep the Futenma air base on Okinawa. While  Mr. Noda is generally low-key in his public statements, he can be provocative, as with his recent comment that Japan’s A-class war criminals are not war criminals. This generated negative publicity, especially in South Korea and China. 

The choice of Mr. Noda appeared to be an effort to overcome what has been the single most divisive issue within the party: the fate of the Democrats’ shadowy kingpin, Ichiro Ozawa, who faces trial in a political funding scandal. Though the party revoked Mr. Ozawa's voting rights, his influence helped cause a stalemate between two candidates — Seiji Maehara and Banri Kaieda. Mr. Noda emerged as a compromise candidate.

At the airport terminal

When you plan to travel by air, you need to make sure that you check-in at least two hours before your flight. When you arrive at the airport departure terminal, make sure that you put your heavy luggage in a trolley, otherwise you may end up pushing your luggage around the airport. When you enter the departure area, a security check is carried out on all your luggage. When you get to the check-in counter, an airline representative will check your tickets and weigh your luggage. All airlines impose a weight restriction, and any excess baggage can be very expensive. After checking-in, you can take any hand luggage on-board with you, while heavy luggage is put on a conveyor belt and carried away. After checking-in, you can wait for your flight at the departure lounge or you can shop around for tax-free goods at the duty free store. When it's time to board your flight, an announcement will be made for all passengers to board their flights. When all the passengers and cabin crew have boarded the plane, the captain will communicate with the control tower and guide the airplane onto the runway for take-off.

Vocabulary Practice

Departure Terminal - a part of the airport where passengers must check-in to board their flight.
Trolley - a handcart used for pushing luggage and heavy items.
Security check - checks by airport security for dangerous items.
Check-in counter - a counter where passengers report themselves before departure.
Excess baggage - luggage that weighs more than the airlines recommended limit.
Hand luggage - luggage that can be carried on - board the airline.
Conveyor belt - a moving belt that is used to transport luggage.
Departure lounge - a room with seats where passengers wait to board their flights.
Duty free - goods that are exempt from tax.
Passengers - a person who travels in a vehicle (planes, trains, cars, boat etc.)
Cabin crew - a team of men and woman who man the airplane.
Runway - the paved surface used by airlines to take off or land.

Gap-fill exercise

Fill in all the gaps

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