Where to get iodine tablets in Japan?

[Mike Cash]

Nor would I, Elizabeth. And being a first-generation immigrant myself I know that we foreigners quite often don't have the same sort of network of relatives to fall back on in times of trouble and thus may have no viable alternative for a place to seek refuge inside Japan. That is why I specifically excluded foreigners living in affected areas in my initial post.

 

[Davey]

Maybe some wanted to get a re-entry permit just in case it would get worse and when do do have to leave the country (because they don't have friends in other cities, their company doesn't have any branches in other cities, or what ever) they don't have to go to the immigration office anymore but can just get on a plane.

...

So many Japanese fled the capital towards other cities where they have friends and family... Why can't do foreigners do the same thing?

(I'm glad that I am living in Kobe, and I don't know what I would have done if I was in the Tokyo area... I don't think I would just run off to Kobe, but having 2 kids age 1 and 3 makes it more difficult)

 

[Mike Cash]

That is a possibility, but it was done en masse so prematurely and with such astonishing alacrity that it still gave the impression of rats leaving a sinking ship.

I realize there must be some genuine valid exceptions among the thousands of people I saw. I recognized that immediately. That is why I said my opinion may be unfair or uncharitable. In some cases, it undoubtedly was. But for the others, probably the vast majority, my opinion stands as I consider it apt.

 

[Elizabeth]

I agree it's good to see so many people sticking with their adopted country, but if the Japanese left in droves after meeting disaster abroad and the subsequent media whirlwind left their families sick with worry (rightly or wrongly), I doubt very much it would even be considered news-worthy.

Just be sure to pay the rent and/or any other debts you have before leaving, like the Japanese saying goes, "立つ鳥跡を濁さず(A bird flying out leaves no mess behind).

 

[Mike Cash]

I agree it's good to see so many people sticking with their adopted country, but if the Japanese left in droves after meeting disaster abroad and the subsequent media whirlwind left their families sick with worry (rightly or wrongly), I doubt very much it would even be considered news-worthy.

Almost apples and oranges, to the extent that I was talking about people who left in droves in the face of.....INCONVENIENCES....not disaster.

Down at the docks I am well-known and over the past eleven years of going in and out of the various yards have become chummy with a good many of the people I see often. A great deal more know me by sight, as I stand out like a sore thumb, but we never have occasion to speak to each other. Yesterday, while going around to check out an empty container I had just picked up, one of the yard workers who has never spoken to me before spoke to me. Not just ﾋ?･ﾅｽA, but following along so he could ask me some questions. It went like this:

"You're not going back to your country?"

(Not catching on, thinking he might be referring to Golden Week as I do get that question around the long holidays) "No....Why?"

"Because of the radiation."

"I'm not going off and leaving the Japanese behind. When everybody leaves, I'll leave."

"But all the foreigners are running away from Japan."

"And I think they should stay gone."

His next communication was non-verbal, a good-we-understand-each-other sort of expression.

I couldn't hold my head up anymore in this country if I had been one of the panic-stricken fleeing gaijins. Are you familiar with the term ﾅ陳ｩﾅｽE窶堋ｵ ?

 

[Elizabeth]

Almost apples and oranges, to the extent that I was talking about people who left in droves in the face of.....INCONVENIENCES....not disaster.?

My point was that that most foreigners are in the country for a short time, and when these things happen, they need to play a game of balancing their priorities. Is it worth the physical and emotional health risk living in a situation where most have no long term security, no long term plan to stay, or were on the borderline about leaving anyway. Because obviously that is the reality of the situation, not only of foreigners working in Japan, but also of Japanese working overseas who fled en masse after floods in Australia, earthquake in NZ etc. You go there for a year or two, and if things get difficult, you need to answer to your family and look at your broader future interests.

I do agree about disdain for foreigners that left Japan and have since attempted to return, especially the irresponsible type who always act w/o acknowledging others who are a part of their life, however briefly by giving notice, paying rent, getting their stuff out of the apt, etc --

But looking at the numbers, out of 500,000 who fled Japan after Mar 11, only 6,000 or so even bothered to obtain re-entry permits. Which means those who took off from the less/non affected areas and have since attempted to return must be a seriously miniscule percentage of the whole. The vast majority of long-timers with permanent jobs did not leave Tokyo. Seems this phenomenon occurred largely with short-timers and during the few day crunch when it was unclear precisely how bad it was going to get.

 

[Emoni]

Thanks for all the replies and information everyone.

I did manage to get some of the tablets (Of course I certainly haven't taken them since that would be... not healthy!) but having them on hand during this time when things are still a bit up and down in regards to the reactor can't hurt.

Generally things seem stable, but I wouldn't say it is under control. Again thanks for the support. Now if only the shaking would stop in Tokyo...

 

[Rube]

Beyond me why anybody would take issue with any foriegner who wanted to leave. Pretty childish for a person fluent in Japanese to take the piss out of a forienger who has been here a short time and probably can't understand a thing being said on the TV. The same people doing all the big talk probably would have been the same people first on the plane if this had happened when they first arrived. But you know how some people are, they need to tear people down to feel good about themselves.


It's sad to lose so many people, the taxes and the monies that would have been spent here are going to be missed. I can understand how somebody who thinks they are the super-gaijin of Japan would be thankful for less foriegners though.

 

[Mike Cash]

Fond of straw men, are you?

That last sentence of yours doesn't even make sense.

How about developing some critical reading skills and reasonng ability then trying again? Take a day or two away from the doobies and see if that helps.

And there's only one person here you're taking issue with, so go ahead and use my name instead of that idiotic "some people" crap.

 

[Rube]

yeah Mike, some people. You aren't the only person to say such things, so yeah some people, but if it fits you, there you go. Don't like my opinion? Would you like a tissue?

 

[Mike Cash]

yeah Mike, some people. You aren't the only person to say such things, so yeah some people, but if it fits you, there you go. Don't like my opinion? Would you like a tissue?

So....according to you I at one and the same time think they shouldn't leave, but because I think myself "super-gaijin" am glad they left. Does that about sum up the output of your piss-poor reading/reasoning skills?

 

[Rube]

lol, dude you read what I wrote, my opinion stands. Don't get mad because I find you humorous. But I am glad that you don't get to make any kind of choices about people's visas. Never the less very funny reading what you would do.

 

[Half-n-Half]

It's regrettable we got into that sidetrack on this thread in the first place; not because it doesn't deserve to be discussed but because it derailed the thread so massively.

I know there's a huge beef between you two, but could you either start a new thread or take it to PM's? Either way, it has nothing to do with iodine tablets in Japan.

 

[Rube]

I hope they thoroughly explain the reasoning behind their actions actions to Japanese friends and co-workers so as to not create any further misunderstandings or erosion of trust between the two communities.

I keep getting surprised looks from friends who are shocked that I didn't leave. Everybody around me seems to be of the opinion that if they could they would have left. 2 of my friends have sent their wives and kids south or to the country side and they are still there.

There might be an "erosion of trust" but I haven't seen any. I'm sure that English schools that lost a lot of teachers will have some issues but I don't feel too sorry for them, not like they have a good track record with their empolyees.

Has anybody actually had any negative vibes from people? Seems like most of the nastiness I see is from other gaijins and 2-channel but I don't count 2-chan, those guys are nuts.

I know there's a huge beef between you two, but could you either start a new thread or take it to PM's? Either way, it has nothing to do with iodine tablets in Japan.

You're right, but neither does Mike's imagnary job as an immigration officer. Sorry but when I see people start to call others rats and disrespect them just because their situation is different, I'll poke the fool a bit.

 

[thomas]

The last time I checked the thread topic was how to acquire iodine tablets in Japan. I will close this thread for the time being.

Update: thread reopened April 27. Please stay on topic.