Snowstorm leaves 19 dead; 6,900 trapped in small communities

Ki o tsukete. although once the snow lightens a tad its time to get on the roof to clear it off......

I was stuck in a jam coming out of a tunnel and could see the traffic backing up - the ETC line was stopped so I jumped into the cash lane and thought to ask the guy about the backup."I guess it's an accident he nonchalantly said.

I reversed back and got off the highway without paying -I was so disgusted that he was willing to let me go into a traffic jam have me get trapped for hours and above all more than happy to accept my money for my pain.

Next time it snows I stay home!

I reversed back and got off the highway without paying -

I'm trying to visualise how you did that as you had just driven out of a tunnel; did you reverse back to the previous junction or did you have a choice of joining the highway or taking a normal road?

Got out of the tunnel , (right lane) approached the toll booths.Switched to the middle cash paying lane leading into another tunnel. Talked to the guy in the booth,did a reverse (no cars behind me) and took the exit which was on the left.

i should have stopped and paid but figured I hadn't had any value so off I went - I am waiting to see what happens ........

Any help from the government? I didn't notice any trucks or plows moving into the troubled areas. Too busy with their tempera luxury dinners?

Any help from the government? I didn't notice any trucks or plows moving into the troubled areas.

That just means the SDF camouflage is really good. I must have better than average eyesight, because I was able to see the SDF trucks and men.

Even here in Tokyo, the JSDF should out with bulldozers etc..and plowing all of this snow and ice off all of the major roads here! People are stuck for days and days without food, gasoline etc..unbelievable that these people do not have SNOW PLOWS to lush away this crap!! Anyway, it is good news that at least the JSDF is finally helping the people who have been stuck in the snow.

unbelievable that these people do not have SNOW PLOWS to lush away this crap!!

Why would an area that rarely gets more than about 5cm of snow at any one time have a huge number of snow plows on standby?

Why would an area that rarely gets more than about 5cm of snow at any one time have a huge number of snow plows on standby?

At least a few should be on hand in case of emergencies like this. While it is understandably why some people would get caught out unexpectedly, the government should not.

At least a few should be on hand in case of emergencies like this. While it is understandably why some people would get caught out unexpectedly, the government should not.

There are "at least a few". In fact, there are lots of snow removal vehicles in some of the affected regions. The snowfall in some areas was 30 times that of a normal year! Most municipalities don't have the funds to have hundreds of bulldozers sitting idle. They only keep as many as is needed in a normal year. Spend a winter in someplace like Nagano and you will quickly see how things work.

Most of the traffic stuck in the snow was trucks. The drivers didn't really have a choice as to whether or not they wanted to drive that day. I bet that if they all stayed off the road for two days and things started to be scarce at your local convenience store, many would be complaining that they didn't have the guts to drive in the snow.

There are "at least a few". In fact, there are lots of snow removal vehicles in some of the affected regions. The snowfall in some areas was 30 times that of a normal year! Most municipalities don't have the funds to have hundreds of bulldozers sitting idle.

Who said anything about hundreds of bulldozers? Talk about talking out of context and exaggerating geez.....

A huge problem is that the Tokaido Shinkansen line was NOT built to withstand snowstorms like this--and the recent storms resulted in serious delays on the world's busiest high-speed rail line, especially between Tokyo and Osaka. This isn't the case on the Tohoku, Joetsu and Nagano (soon Hokuriku) Shinkansen lines, which were all built with the ability to operate even in heavy snowstorms with trainsets that can "plow" the snow and warm-water sprinklers on the tracks to melt the snow.

As a result, don't be surprised that JR Central--which owns and operates the Tokaido Shinkansen tracks between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka Stations--will seriously look at installing more snow-removal systems on the line as a result of the recent huge snowstorms.

So glad the news mentions the areas completely isolated and trapped west of Tokyo! Route 20 is a complete mess, with only one lane available for delivery trucks, semis, taxis, passenger cars and PEDESTRIANS walking on either deep slush or solid ice because sidewalks are full of piled up snow. It didn't say that we got 1 meter of snow in addition to the previous 70cm. In our area two separate snow plow companies are hired and one came up to the wall of our community but could NOT do even just the few meters to the driveway for our people to get out to the shoveled road. We had to wait until the OTHER company (a construction company) to come from the opposite direction. They can't go into rival territories. Our rooves are piled high with what is now ice posing a real threat to people below. People are still isolated in spots. A window broke after a nearby shed crashed through the shutters on a place we rent. It is now covered with a plastic sheet so the room is unusable, and inaccessible. Gutters are falling off. Businesses and hospitals cannot get deliveries and staff cannot get to work because the Chuo Highway and trains have closed. Several reports of rooves collapsing. Car ports are broken all over the area. We found out that an elderly neighbor was completely trapped in her home by walls of snow falling off the roof adding to the snow on the ground. She escaped via one entrance. A roof collapsed. Shovels have broken. Food!? Some people walked to depleted stores 2 hours away. Bakeries don't have flour for bread.How much can one carry when the nearest store is 40 minutes away on foot over icy roads? Glad to see that the JSDF was flying overhead yesterday and checking our area out.

What is the point of a weather forecast when no one listens or prepares? For shame (again) government. Also, the kindness of strangers happened within those cars and trains ... most of the surrounding communities are old people and can't get out to volunteer. All you young people that live in those areas sitting at home should be ashamed of yourselves.

When this happened at an unprepared Atlanta a couple weeks ago, the mayor and the governor both got hauled over hot coals for this.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/atlanta-other-parts-of-south-paralyzed-by-ice-snowstorm/

What is the point of a weather forecast when no one listens or prepares? For shame (again) government. Also, the kindness of strangers happened within those cars and trains ... most of the surrounding communities are old people and can't get out to volunteer. All you young people that live in those areas sitting at home should be ashamed of yourselves.

I know that you're sat in a heated room behind your computer but I'm struggling to see how you can criticise people for stating indoors during forcasted blizzards instead of going up mountain roads (which are closed) and rescue people. I'd imagine that the average person that tried to go out in severe weather conditions without the required training and probably without the required equipment is likely to become another victim.

Just got back from driving a family member to the station on the Chuo Honsen. Route 20 has been plowed whilst we slumbered!!! Thank you to the company that did that!! Now, instead of slush and bumpy ice, Pedestrians can still walk IN THE STREET on smooth ice (that may melt later today) with the delivery trucks, taxis, cars, scooters, etc. I saw a woman carrying a preschooler along the route on the icy road. I offered her a ride, indeed begged her to get in the car with us tothe station. But, she said, "daijobu desu. arigatou gozaimasu" and refused. Kind of sad to be in an era where people feel it is better to risk walking, falling, breaking, than accept a ride of a fellow small towner. There are no buses running today and my parking space is inacessible. I shall be among the walkers in a few minutes. Trains are running irregularly and finally past Shiotsu to Kofu, if people stuck are lucky! Parts of the Chuo Highway may open up but some towns still cannot use their entrance and exit ramps. The radio said helicopters will be delivering some food to certain towns in Yamanashi which are completely isolated. More snow possible tonight, tomorrow, Thursday, and or Friday and Saturday. Weather app shows this pattern continuing until March 9 so far!!!

Most of the injuries and problems could have been prevented if companies told their staff to stay home. Everyone I know had to go to work!

The main problem with all unusual weather is the fact that Govts. and Business, and some people, want to ignore the conditions and pretend they are dealing with a sunny, balmy day in Spring. If trucking were replaced by dirigibles and trucks were only used for local deliveries, it would be a smoother running world with roads lasting longer in good shape.

I saw pictures and YouTube videos of scenes from Yamanashi Prefecture and holy moley, the whole place looks like something out of Yamagata or many parts of Niigata Prefecture after a major snowstorm with a thick blanket of snow everywhere, a lot of building damage and buried rail lines.

Funny that the North Korean University in my part of Tokyo has the brain to USE a bulldozer to push and pick up all of this crap snow and they cleaned up their university, streets real good! So if North Koreans here in Japan have enough brains to say, look, we can push and move all of this crap snow, but Japanese think this is muri?? Why?? and leaving all of this crap snow on the roads, etc..it becomes ICE, black ice and when you hit black ice, at the wrong speed, etc..you will be in a world of trouble! Tokyo already has thousands of bull dozers, put some of them to clean up this mess!! hell, pay people to go out and clean this mess, the homeless, etc..

Funny that the North Korean University in my part of Tokyo has the brain to USE a bulldozer to push and pick up all of this crap snow and they cleaned up their university, streets real good! So if North Koreans here in Japan have enough brains to say, look, we can push and move all of this crap snow, but Japanese think this is muri?? Why?? and leaving all of this crap snow on the roads, etc..it becomes ICE, black ice and when you hit black ice, at the wrong speed, etc..you will be in a world of trouble! Tokyo already has thousands of bull dozers, put some of them to clean up this mess!! hell, pay people to go out and clean this mess, the homeless, etc..

The Governor of Tokyo should take heat for this. The highways as it is Japan should have been closed as they do during typhoons. Public officials should have said something to keep people off the streets. 26 cm is not a lot of snow but if don't have the equipment to clear it, they people shouldn't be on the streets.

I walked to the station yesterday and a kind neighbor picked me up. some parts okay but others are scary. Another family member walked home in the a.m. and a different neighbor gave him a lift!! Wonderful feeling. People are still out walking on BLACK ICE trying to get to work on trains that are still running irregularly along the Chuo Hon Sen west of Takao. Still people are having to walk home from the last stop. It has been Shiotsu. Hospitals and school staff still cannot get to work. On the trains that do run, people bring home food from Tokyo. Stores have run out of vegetables, meat dairy products and other staples like rice and pasta, bread. I bought bread in Tokyo at a bakery. My family was so happy! Because the roads are narrow, a younger member uses a scooter to see what can be bought at convenience stores and supermarkets. Last night, Rt. 20 was cleared in parts but wet from the melting mounds of snow on eithe side. People still have to walk with the delivery trucks, cars, taxis on the same road. Sidewalds are buried even or bridges. Very treacherous still. A woman told me last night her water pipes were frozen. Her mother collected snow, boiled the water as best she could and cooled it to wash rice. They also live near a hill that will wash away when the snow melts. This is the reality of many in rural areas beyond Takao, in Kanagawa, Yamanashi, of course other places.