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Great East Japan Earthquake

An extremely severe earthquake centered in the Tohoku - Pacific Ocean district struck on Friday, March 11. Official information on the earthquake is available on the following websites. Please stay calm and act on correct and accurate　information.

1.Information for students and researchers in Japan

Information Related to Prospective Students and Currently Enrolled Students of Universities

-(Request) on Confirmation of the Safety of Students, Faculty Members and Staff Owing to the Occurrence of the 2011 Tohoku - Region Pacific Ocean Earthquake (March 12)

MEXT requested the collection of information and assurance of safety of University students and faculty members and staffs to University in Japan. Therefore, we would ask all international students and researchers to contact the university or other education institution in which you are enrolled in order to give information confirming your safety.

-If international students travelling to their home country or other overseas destination during schools, etc. one can return to Japan to continue one's studies without having to acquire a new visa if a Re-entry Permit is obtained in advance. Please remain you need to obtain a Re-entry Permit so that you will not be asked to acquire a new visa.

Please refer URL following:Entry and Residence Procedures for Foreign Students(external link, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)(external link, Ministry of Justice)

-(Request) on the Handling of the Selection of FY 2011 University Entrants Owing to the Occurrence of the 2011 Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake (March 12)

In consideration of the examinees who have been affected by the 2011 Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake, an administrative memo was sent to the president of each national, public and private university seeking consideration and the provision of information for 1) assurance that those examinees who were unable to take the entrance examination be given the opportunity to take the entrance examination and 2) flexible measures relating to extension of the period of the admissions procedures, the collection of tuition fees and other matters.

-(Request) on the Handling of the Selection of FY 2011 University Entrants Owing to the Occurrence of the 2011 Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake (March 14)

As a special measure, MEXT is currently considering the possibility of establishing a schedule beyond the normal schedule for the implementation of university entrant selection. In addition, all of the universities have been requested to consider flexible measures. A decision and a public announcement were made by Tohoku University that, “consideration will be given with regard to the university admissions procedures of the first phase so as not to cause disadvantage to examinees on account of the state of the postal services”.

-(Notification) on Due Consideration for Students Stricken by the 2011 Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake (March 14)

With regard to the studies and graduation of students who have been stricken by the 2011 Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake, a notification was sent out in the name of the Senior Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Kan Suzuki to the president of universities and other educational institutions seeking consideration for 1) flexible handling of the payment deadline of tuition fees, 2) flexible measures concerning approval of credits and approval of graduation and 3) responses to the mental health of all students, including international students.

-（Notification）Handling of the Academic Calendar for FY2011 in Response to the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake (March 25)

MEXT announced “Notice on “Handling of the Academic Calendar for FY2011 in Response to the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake”(See the link on the bottom) to Presidents of all National, Public and Private Universities in Japan on March 25th 2011.

Considering the impact of the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake and subsequent rolling power blackouts means that some universities will not be able to start lectures and classes from April, it shall be possible for universities to respond flexibly with an initial period stipulated in Articles, with the regard to the initial period for lectures in FY2011.

- (NEW)(Notification) Support for Students Affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake

MEXT issued the press release about the topic in the title as shown in the annex to presidents of national, public and private universities, presidents of national, public and private junior colleges, principals of national, public and private colleges of technology, prefectural governors, and prefectural boards of education.(See the link on the bottom)

Information for students enrolled in specialized training colleges and miscellaneous schools

- (NEW) (Notification) “On the Handling of Students by Specialized Training Colleges and Miscellaneous Schools in Response to the Recent Tohoku Region Earthquake and Tsunami” (March 14)

MEXT released the new “On the Handling of Students by Specialized Training Colleges and Miscellaneous Schools in Response to the Recent Tohoku Region Earthquake and Tsunami” (March 14) notification to all prefectural directors and prefectural board of education directors who oversee the operation of local vocational schools and miscellaneous educational institutions.
It requires them to instruct vocational schools and miscellaneous educational institutions under their jurisdiction to give due consideration to students from disaster-stricken areas with regard to 1) entrance examinations and enrollment procedures; 2) graduation and promotion processes, etc.; and 3) inter-scholastic/–institutional transfers, etc.

Information for school students

MEXT announced “Notice on Facilitating Students’ School Attendance, etc., in Areas Affected by the 2011 Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake“ (See the link on the bottom) to Prefectural boards of education etc in Japan on March 14th 2011.

Acceptance of evacuees to National Youth Friendship Centers in Fukushima(See the link on the bottom)
（Press Release）On the Provision of Information concerning 2011 Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake to International Students

2.Information about the radiation

A diagram “Radiation in daily-life” on radiation doses
※See the PDF file on the bottom.
What does “1μSv/h” mean?
※See the PDF file on the bottom.
Reading of environmental radioactivity level（English,Chinese and Korean version）
Basic facts regarding radiation explosure (external link, basic facts regarding radiation exposure resulting from the nuclear plant accident)

Disaster information(external link, Information from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)

3.Please be warned about chain emails.

Incorrect information concerning 2011 Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake in the form of chain emails, electronic bulletin boards and mini blogs is being circulated. Please check to see whether this information is correct by checking reliable sources of information such as the websites of government agencies or of reliable media, and please do not panic through these chain mails, etc.

Moreover, forwarding these chain emails results in creating more panic. If you receive one of these chain emails, please delete it immediately and do not forward it to anyone else.

4.Electric power saving

Due to 2011 Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake, the power supply-demand balance within our service area has been very critical. We ask for your cooperation with electric power saving. Information about the implementation plan of rolling blackout is been updated on TEPCO homepage(external link, TEPCO).