I arrived at Narita at 4:10 PM, early, in spite of a strange flight pattern that I can only interpret as a radiation-avoidance path (hard right at the southern end of Hokaido, between Honshu and Hokaido, south along the western margins of Honshu, then back over land at roughly the level of Sado Island, and into Narita).  Email from friends suggests there has been a further explosion at one of the Fukushima plants while I was in the air, but I haven't seen any news that I can understand as yet.  I had heard something to this effect before I left Seattle, but I don't know if it is the same explosion.

There was also news (before I left) of a problem at the Tokai nuclear plant in Ibaraki prefecture (where Tsukuba is located), but all I've heard so far is that it seems not to be an issue at the present time.

Clearing customs was eerie.  Elapsed time from plane door to the arrivals lobby was 20 minutes.  Very few people ahead of me, in spite of the fact I was nearly last off the plane.  Thanks to Shigeo's instructions about where to find the bus tickets, I got my ticket for Tsukuba and had lots of time to catch my breath, get some currency, and board a 5:25 bus.  The greatest hazard I've faced thus far was an American girl who sat beside me on a bench outside, waiting for the bus, and lit up a cigarette.

Watching CNN now, tucked into my hotel room at Tsukuba Center, but its mostly fluff, of course.  In the morning, I'll meet Shigeo and we'll find out whether the visiting scholar residence has water and electricity.