Nuclear workers face radiation limit, but fight on

[AndyTiedye]

KITAKAMI, Japan — The thinning ranks of men struggling to tame Japan's nuclear emergency are invoking the spirit of the samurai as they ignore personal radiation limits in their battle to avert disaster.

Some are so determined to push on with a task they see as vital to saving Japan they are leaving their dosimetres at home so bosses do not know the true level of their exposure to radiation at the crippled plant.

As Japan declared the Fukushima Daiichi disaster a level seven emergency -- the worst on an international scale -- engineer Hiroyuki Kohno was heading back into the leaking plant, fully aware that one day it could make him very ill.

"My boss phoned me three days ago. He told me: 'The situation over there is much worse than what the media are reporting. It is beyond our imagination. But, will you still come?'," he told AFP.

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20110414-273574.html

[AsahinaKimi]

1. ganbareyo!

I may be in America, but my heart is with Japan!
Amerika ni iru kedo, kokoro wa nihon to tomo ni arimasu.
アメリカにいるけど, こころはにほんとともにあります.

頑張れ日本 !!

[gateley]

2. And even those of us who only know Japan on a map -- our hearts are with

these people as well.

:hug:

[gateley]

3. I'm just speechless. I am so humbled by their bravery and selflessness.

I just can't imagine...

[AsahinaKimi]

4. spirit of the samurai ~ its called Bushido ..

Bushidō (武士道), meaning "Way of the Warrior", is a Japanese code of conduct and a way of the samurai life, loosely analogous to the concept of chivalry. It originates from the samurai moral code and stresses frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and honor unto death. Born of two main influences, the violent existence of the samurai was tempered by the wisdom and serenity of Japanese Shinto and Buddhism.

Seven virtues of Bushidō;
Rectitude (義 gi)
Courage (勇 yū)
Benevolence (仁 jin)
Respect (礼 rei)
Honesty (誠 makoto)
Honor (名誉 meiyo)
Loyalty (忠義 chūgi)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido

[gateley]

5. Good virtues to have. We in America don't have such a heritage, sadly.

Some do, but too many of us are just "American".

[franzia99]

7. Agreed. Their sacrifice represents the best of humanity.

[franzia99]

6. The TEPCO and GE execs responsible for this need to get in there and help