By Hiroshi Mizohata, Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency, JTA, Japanese Government Dear readers, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the warm support and sympathy we have received from 253 countries, regions and international organizations after the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred on 11 March. Although the earthquake and a series of tsunamis caused serious human suffering mainly in the Tohoku region, and roads, railroads and airports were heavily damaged, the entire nation is making utmost efforts towards the recovery from the earthquake, together with the support provided by the international community. The Japanese government has designated the area within a 20 km radius of the Fukushima nuclear power plant as a "caution zone" where entry into and exit from the zone is restricted/banned and evacuation orders are allowed by law. On June 17, the IAEA published the "IAEA Mission Report" on the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. Tokyo is located at a distance of more than 220 km away from the Fukushima nuclear power plants and is not affected by the accident. The amount of radiation in the atmosphere and tap water has returned to regular values in all places. Radioactive materials in food are measured under one of the strictest standards in the world so that any food containing radioactive materials over the provisional restriction value based on the Food Sanitation Act will be banned from shipment. Major transportation infrastructure such as the Shinkansen bullet train and expressways have resumed operation. Major international airports in Japan have resumed providing services as usual. Sendai airport has resumed operation of domestic routes. Although some foreign diplomatic embassies in Tokyo were closed temporarily right after the earthquake, all of them are open and operating normally now. International institutions such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have made objective assessments that excessive measures such as general travel restrictions to Japan are unnecessary. International institutions such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have made objective assessments that excessive measures such as general travel restrictions to Japan are unnecessary. The latest, accurate and scientific information on the earthquake, tsunami, nuclear power plants, radiation, transportation services, etc. can be found on the websites listed below . All convention facilities which were used for international meetings in Japan are operating normally and fully ready to welcome international meetings. Daily life is as active as ever for people living in cities. The hosts of the international meetings shown below have decided that they will not change the host cities based on detailed risk analyses and the fact that there is no scientific evidence for change. - Kyoto: XXIII Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis and 57th Annual SSC Meeting (ISTH2011) - Kyoto: The 6th World Congress of the World Sleep Federation (Worldsleep2011) - Nagoya: Academy of International Business 2011 Annual Meeting (AIB2011) - Yokohama: International Surgical Week 2011(ISW2011) - Tokyo: The 24th World Congress of Architecture (UIA2011) - Sapporo: International Union of Microbiological Societies 2011 Congress (IUMS 2011) *Concerning ISTH2011, please view the official website to learn why they decided to go ahead with the Kyoto meeting; http://www.isth2011.com/ Furthermore the following international meetings were fixed after March 11. - Tokyo: The 2012 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group - Osaka: The 40th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering (INTER-NOISE 2011) The Japanese government continues to commit itself to providing the latest, accurate and scientific information on the effects of the earthquake. If you need detailed information on any host cities or you are planning to inspect a host city, please contact the Japan Tourism Agency(JTA), the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the convention bureau in the concerned city or the management company of the venue, who will be pleased to respond to your inquiries. Now and in the future, Japan offers one of the world's most diverse choices for meeting venues and attractive travel destinations, with something new and exciting to discover on every visit. Japan's cities are lively and sophisticated, a fascinating mix of ancient and modern. Beyond that lies a wealth of spectacular natural beauty, fusing amazing scenery and historical tradition. Your objective judgment based on the latest, accurate and scientific information will truly support the recovery of Japan. International meetings or travel in Japan and the encounters we will have with you will greatly encourage us. Sincerely yours, Hiroshi Mizohata Commissioner Japan Tourism Agency Japanese Government | ||||||