Originally Posted By: Susan
Japan is probably trying to prevent a national panic. The U.S. government has always had its own agenda, whether we hear what it really is or not (usually not).

I agree on both counts. Such divergent recommendations just make it really hard to gauge the situation based on what either side is recommending that people do, particularly for people like my friend, who are watching the situation from outside Japan and having to decided if and when to return to Tokyo.

One thing is certain so far--none of the Western governments have yet recommended that people return to Tokyo yet.