1330 (JST) ish: I noticed some birds flying in an unusual pattern overhead. Wondering what they were up to, it still didn't even occur to me that something really bad might be around the corner.
1445: my flat has an automated quake alarm system, which went off. A voice message says there will be a quake soon.
1448: turned on the TV to get info. There was a huge earthquake in Tohoku (literally means northeast or north and east) District at 1446. Multiple tsunami warnings issued. Then electricity was cut.
1449: felt the first jolt, then sustained, slow swaying, which lasted for several minutes. I think there were two separate waves or more. The whole building and the ground felt like moving, almost like in a small ship in the middle of a storm. Not a violent shaking you'd get near the epicentre. Mercifully, no damage in my flat. Just when I thought it stopped, it started shaking again. I realised that this quake occurred somewhere far away but must be really, really big.
The whole afternoon: the blackout continues. I was getting some info from my mobile phone, but soon the network was down. I got some e-mails from my friends but cannot make any phone calls. Fearing for water supply, we filled up PET bottles, bowls and anything that could be filled with water. After the sunset it was pitched dark all over town, there is nothing to do but sit tight and wait.
2035 (approx.): power came back on. Finally watched the TV to learn the devastation caused by the tsunami waves. The damage from the quake itself was modest but the tsunami utterly destroyed coastal towns and communities. Began to receive more phone calls and e-mails from concerned friends.
2035-0100: we were glued to the TV, shocked by the scale of devastation. At this point, the death toll was still 40+. Of course the Japanese TV tend to be cautious, only reporting figures that had been confirmed. Electricity in my area was on now but all public transport was shut down. No train, no bus, nothing, except now precious taxis. Consequently, in and around Tokyo, tens of thousands of people were stranded in offices and wherever they were. Many were forced to walk home for hours. Some had not choice but to stay in their offices, school gyms and even train stations. I could hear commotion coming from a nearby train station. I suppose the station staff were trying to help the stranded people. Overnight, they emptied most convenience marts.
Saturday, March 12th
0700-0900: we were lucky to be at home at the time of the quake. At least we had a good night's sleep. Well, actually interrupted many times as there were numerous aftershocks, setting off the alarm system each time. By 0900 in the morning of the 13th, some trains began running. Desperate people go home finally.
0900-1130: I saw some shops open and rushed there to buy food. the timing of the quake was bad, as we usually shop in Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, our stock of food was minimal. Already many people at supermarkets and queues were forming very rapidly. But they were orderly, there was no panic.
1200-1600: the death toll began to rise. Now they are talking about hundreds. On the next day, it wd be thousands.
1630-midnight: the meltdown of a nuclear plant feared. Lots of speculation by the media was going on, but finally, the government issued a statement saying that the meltdown was avoided.
0700: woke up to find out that there was another crisis in the nuclear plant looming....
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