I too knew a japnese person from my work, and he was in England for 3 years before having to retrun to Japan. We swopped a pair of his shoes that I loved for a commemorative mug of some description that was in those days 60 years old. My thoughts are constantly thinking of him and his family at the moment and hoping and praying that they are safe. I hope that the news may improve in the next few days, but I fear not. My friend desperately wanted to stay in the UK, as he was able to enjoy a lovely house and garden and good golf!!!! aqnd he would be returning to a very compact housing arrangement with Japanese working regimes which were a lot tougher than ours. How I wish he could have remained, now I await news from him. How I feel for all everybody out there, and it does make me feel so utterly helpless.