OFFICIAL STATEMENT : Tohoku Earthquake impact on Honda operations across Asia

Honda Malaysia issued the following press release as a clarification on the status of Honda's operations here in the important regions of Japan (home market), Asia, and Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, etc). The main message is that Honda will resume operations of ALL their plants on April 11th, INCLUDING the Tochigi R&D center which got hit quite badly. Any potential impact on production due to parts supply will be handled on an as-is where-is basis -IF- they occur. Read the full official release after the jump.

 

EARTHQUAKE IMPACT ON HONDA OPERATIONS

IN JAPAN, ASIA AND OCEANIA COUNTRIES

Petaling Jaya, 1^st April 2011 – Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. today announced the possible impact on its operations from Japan earthquake disaster, following a statement issued by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 

<About Japan Operations>

·        Sayama Plant at Saitama Factory (Sayama, Saitama) and Suzuka Factory (Suzuka, Mie) which have been suspended will resume production on 11^th April 2011.  This means all Honda production plants in Japan will resume operation on that date.

·        Honda will also resume its production and shipment of component parts for use in production outside of Japan on 4^th April 2011.

·        However, the production of cars as well as component parts will run at approximately 50% of the original production plan at the outset as the situation with the supply of parts remains fluid.

·        Most of Honda’s suppliers in Japan are making progress in resuming production, and many have already started production. Honda is working with its suppliers that have yet to resolve the challenge in resuming their production, to help re-establish their operations as soon as possible. At the same time, evaluation of other possible sources for the parts in the supply chain is in progress.

<About Asia and Oceania Operations including Honda Malaysia>

·        Honda is striving to continue production at each automobile production plant with careful examination on the possibility of a temporary reduction of production volume.

·        Honda Malaysia is monitoring closely the situation on the supply of parts and how it will affect its CKD and CBU models here. Relevant announcement can only be made once there is more information.

“We deeply regret any inconveniences caused, especially to our valued customers. We are making every effort to work towards a full recovery as quickly as possible. We sincerely appreciate the understanding of our customers and business partners during these challenging times,” said Mr. Yoichiro Ueno, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia.

Honda Malaysia today contributed RM300,000 to support relief and recovery efforts through Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) International Relief Fund.

Authoritative Information on radiation levels in Japan

Due to Honda being one of Japan's largest car manufacturers, as well as one of the two manufacturers most affected by the Tohoku earthquake/tsunami early this month, we at TOV/TOVA have been especially concerned about the situation in Japan. I myself have personal friends living in Tokyo.

One of the most alarming developments lately has been the amount of mis-information and in some cases, blatant mis-representation and fear-mongling amongst many reports especially on the internet and often even in traditional media. Sensational headlines seems to be the norm today.

It is true that radiation and its ill-effects are very worrisome. However, for those TOV/TOVA readers who are interested to know the truth and nothing but the truth, it is worthwhile knowing that the worldwide authority on nuclear-related matters is the International Atomic Energy Agency or the IAEA. All other 'authorities' that may be quoted in news reports are simply fake. The IAEA reports directly to the U.N. including policing adherence to policy and reporting errant countries to the UN Security Council. Therefore, if you are really eager to know the true situation, especially if it may affect you directly in one way or another, the proper place to check is the IAEA website, and not all those newspapers, internet portals and so forth.

The IAEA website has a dedicated page on up-to-date updates on the Tokoku earthquake/tsunami situation including internationally verified data on current status of the Fukushima plant as well as radiation levels. Do note that all radiation levels and information seems to be independently verified by experts from properly accredidated international bodies, such as the WHO and so forth. The Japan authorities are also being advised on most critical matters by experts from these bodies. Therefore, if you read comments from 'experts' from previously unheard of organizations talking like authorities on the nuclear situation, you really should ask the key question of WHY they are talking and NOT in Japan offering advice and help.

The link to the page is question is here :
http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/tsunamiupdate01.html

Please note that wild reports of radiation levels running out of control in Japan are NOT supported by actual internationally verified information. Also any reports about airborne radiation having made its way outside of Japan are also not true at all. To close this post, the following quote was in the IAEA website on March 30th. This is about radiation level measurement from Singapore authorities whom apparently have been instructed by the IAEA to measure and provide the data to them, regarding any radiation having made their way outside of Japan..

"In response to the request for data on measurement, the IEC has received information from Singapore. The Singapore Authorities have sent reports on measurements in food imported from Japan (cabbages). Some samples were over the Codex Alimentarius values recommended for international trade. In Singapore no increase in gamma dose rates have been observed and no fission products have been found in air samples."

New mini-car by Honda, the BRIO is launched in Thailand

Honda has launched a brand new model, a mini-car named the Honda Brio starting in Thailand. It is equipped with a 1.2l engine with around 90ps featuring DBW and a CVT gearbox. The engine is EURO-4 emissions compliant.

More details of the Honda Brio is available at the HAT (Honda Automobile Thailand) at http://www.honda.co.th/brio/

Latest update on Honda's situation from the Tohoku Earthquake

Honda has made further changes to their operations in Japan following the Tohoku earthquake. To read the whole press release, click on 'read more' below




TOKYO, Japan, March 24, 2011 - Following is the most current information regarding the impact of the major earthquake in Northeastern Japan on Honda's operations. 

<About the suspension of production>
Honda had previously announced the suspension of production through Sunday, March 27. Today, Honda made the decision to extend the suspension of the production of finished units of automobiles at Sayama Plant at Saitama Factory (Sayama, Saitama) and Suzuka Factory (Suzuka, Mie) through Sunday, April 3, 2011. Concerning operations from April 4 on, Honda will make decisions based on the status of the recovery of Japanese society as a whole as well as the supply of parts. We deeply regret any inconvenience we may be causing our customers. Honda will resume motorcycle and power product production at Kumamoto Factory (Ozu-machi, Kikuchi-gun, Kumamoto) on Monday, March 28.

<Recovery of operations in the Tochigi area where the impact of the earthquake was more severe>
At Tochigi Factory (Moka, Tochigi), the repair and inspection activities were completed for almost all facilities and equipment.
At other operations, including the Automobile R&D Center (Tochigi) of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. and Honda Engineering Co., Ltd., associates who will work on the restoration started returning to work. However, based on the expectation that it will take several months until the complete recovery of these facilities, Honda decided to temporally transfer some functions such as the automobile product development, development of manufacturing technologies and procurement to Honda operations in other locations such as Sayama, Suzuka, and Wako. 

<Recruiting activities for the next year-- associates who would join the company in April 2012>
On March 14, Honda announced that the testing/interviewing of applicants from the affected areas would be conducted in June or later even without their request so that people in the affected areas can focus on their daily life and recovery efforts. Today, considering the fact that the various issues are affecting people all over Japan, Honda decided to delay the entire recruiting process by about two months so that all of applicants can enter into the process without any concerns. Based on the changes in the situation, Honda will take additional measures as needed to reduce the burden on applicants as much as possible. More details will be posted on the recruiting section of the Honda website in April.
Honda is working toward the recovery with the utmost efforts. We appreciate everyone's understanding during these challenging times.

Videos of new 9Gen USDM Civic

There is already an forum created for the to be launched new 9the generation Honda Civic. In the TOV forums, reports that the 9Gen Civic forum people have already capture some videos of the car which are now already at the dealer's lots for stock-up and for training. Some of these videos have been embedded in the TOV forum. The relevant thread is below:

http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-message?message_id=969084&page_number=1#969084

Extension of plant closure due to earthquake

Below is the press release from Honda related to the extension of plant closure due to the effects of the recent earthquake.

TOKYO, Japan, March 18, 2011 – Considering the current situation of the nationwide recovery efforts in Japan, Honda had previously announced the suspension of production until March 20. Today, Honda made the decision to extend the suspension of production of finished units at the following plants until March 23, 2011: for automobiles, Sayama Plant at Saitama Factory (Sayama, Saitama) and Suzuka Factory (Suzuka, Mie) and for motorcycles, Kumamoto Factory (Ozu-machi, Kikuchi-gun, Kumamoto).
Concerning operations from March 24 on, Honda will make decisions based on the status of the recovery of parts supply as well as Japanese society as a whole. We deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause our customers, and request their understanding during these challenging times.

Honda Accord MMC

Honda Malaysia today launched the face-lift for the Honda Accord. The MMC comprises almost purely exterior comestic changes like chromed front grille and so forth. Other more 'useful' enhancements includes thicker floor mat for the interior which serves to enhance noise insulation for quieter ride. A new 17" wheel complements the 2.4l version. Also added are useful features like front corner sensors and a new design 'jack-knife' car key.

Most importantly is that prices for all variants remains the same; on-the road with insurance retail prices being RM142,800 for the 2.0VTi, RM149,800 for the 2.0VTi-L; and RM172,800 for the 2.4 VTi-L.

Also a new colour, Celestial Blue Metallic has been added to the existing colours which have all been retained.

For the official press release for this MMC Honda Accord, click on 'read more'

Sophistication refined in the latest 2011 Accord

Petaling Jaya, 17 March 2011 – Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. today announced the arrival of the newly updated Accord for 2011. Highlighted by value-added features and enhanced styling, the latest Accord is a refined version of the 8^th generation model, which is a statement of sophistication built purely to provide customers the joy of possessing a luxurious and performing sedan.

“Accord has an illustrious history that spans across 35 years, during which it has grown into a truly global car with a legacy of awards and innovations. As one of Honda’s bestselling vehicle lines, Accord is sold in more than 160 countries with a cumulative sale of more than 18 million units from 1976 to 2010,” said Mr. Yoichiro Ueno, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia.

He further added: “In Malaysia, 7,322 units of Accord was sold last year representing 16.5% of Honda Malaysia’s total sales; this made Malaysia the No. 1 Accord market amongst ASEAN countries and one of the biggest markets for Accord in the Asia & Oceania region, contributing to 22% of the region’s total sales last year.”

Some of the reasons cited by Malaysian customers for their preference of the Accord included its performance, marked by excellent drivability, fuel economy and Honda’s renowned i-VTEC technology; sporty exterior styling; luxurious and comfortable interior with the largest space in its class; and a youthful image coupled with Honda’s strong branding.

Taking cues from what customers like about it, the new Accord has been further enhanced in exterior styling and features to bring its sophistication to a new level with the same high performance expected of Accord. This is achieved with a set of new sporty chrome front grille and bumper, elegant rear chrome trunk lid, and smart-looking new 17” alloy wheel design for selected model. In terms of value-added features, it now offers front corner sensors, an enhanced interior cabin, and a new jack-knife key for a safer and more luxurious drive.

Overall, the style-enhanced Accord expresses an even more upscale and powerful presence. While the car front continues to feature a powerful forward-thrusting nose, long, sharply cut headlights, it is now complemented with new chrome front grille and bumper for a sharply defined sporty and yet elegant appearance. The rear of the car is also refined with a new chrome trunk lid that gives it a premium and luxurious touch. The 2.4-liter model now comes with a newly designed 17” alloy wheel that adds to its total sporting class.

Along with the refined exterior, drivers can expect the new Accord to continue to deliver a delightful driving experience with its existing Variable Gear Ratio or VGR Steering – a mechanism that provides precise handling and stability during high speed driving, and ease to manoeuvre at tight corner; Shift Hold Control, which reduces gear shift during cornering and supplies acceleration after a turn; and 5-Speed Automatic Transmission, which offers an incredibly smooth drive and better fuel economy.

With one of the largest cabin rooms amongst cars of its class, including those of continental make, the Accord is already offering a comfortable and luxurious feel and ride for both driver and passengers.  The refined interior of the new Accord features a thicker floor mat to reduce the effect of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), thereby providing an even quieter and luxurious ride; and both 2.0-liter VTi-L and VTi variants now come with new leather steering wheel, with an added leather gear knob for the latter.

In terms of safety, the new Accord will continue to utilize the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); and new front corner sensors for safer parking for all variants.  The 2.4-liter variant has additional safety equipment including the Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) and front seat side airbags with occupant position detection system (OPDS).

With all the refinements in its exterior styling, new value-added features, coupled with Accord’s existing advanced technologies, the new Accord promises a sporty luxurious, safe and performing drive.

In consideration of providing the best value for customers, Honda Malaysia announced the good news that it will maintain the price for all new Accord variants with the enhanced exterior styling and value-added features (in the aforementioned).

The three new Accord variants and their on-the road with insurance retail prices are: the 2.0-liter VTi model retailing at RM142,800; the 2.0-liter VTi-L model with additional features and more luxurious touches, retailing at RM149,800; and the 2.4-liter VTi-L model retailing at RM172,800.

It is available in five colours: the all-new Celestial Blue Metallic; and other existing hues in Taffeta White, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Polished Metal Metallic, and Crystal Black Pearl.

The new Accord will appeal to those who aspire to succeed in life, appreciate the finer things, and enjoy a luxurious and high performance drive. In line with the target customers’ aspirations, Honda Malaysia is embarking on a nationwide photography exhibition tour entitled The Journey of Ambition, to showcase the legacy of Accord driven by Honda’s engineering spirit and boundless ambitions. Honda customers and visitors can view the exhibition at Queensbay Mall in Penang from 13 to 17 April; One Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya from 20 to 24 April; Empire Gallery in Subang from 25 to 29 May; and Terbrau City in Johor Bahru from 21 to 26 June.

Starting today, customers can visit all authorised Honda showrooms nearby to view and test-drive the new Accord.  For more information, please call Honda Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020, or log on to Honda Malaysia’s website at http://www.honda.com.my

Honda Malaysia's Honda Dream Fund (HDF)

In spite of the calamity that has struck their home country, Honda Malaysia continues with the annual execution of their 'Honda Dreams Fund' (HDF). Created to help the needy and poor to achieve their dreams, it is very commendable that Honda Malaysia is continuing to do this. HMSB also holds a nationwide road-tour to reach out to especially those who are in very remote areas and those who might not be aware of this effort. Being targetted at the poor, HMSB realizes that their target audience might well be unlikely to have own a computer or even a T.V., what more surf the internet.

Some of the main criteria for qualifying to apply for HMSB's HDF are very simple:
1. Age between 17 to 24 years old
2. TOTAL COMBINED household income of RM1,500 or less
3. Must have an acheiveable dream


Currently the nationwide road tour has already been completed but candidates can still apply for the HDF until the end of this month, March 31st 2011. For full, complete details on the HDF and how to apply, go to the HDF page in the HMSB website below:

http://www.honda.com.my/socialresponsibility/hondadreamsfund/overview/

HONDA MALAYSIA SEES NO IMMEDIATE IMPACT FROM JAPAN EARTHQUAKE DISASTER

Honda Malaysia has issued an official statement on the condition related to car availability related to the recent Japan earthquake. The important highlights are :

* Sufficient inventory for CKD and CBU models for the next one to two months.
* Production at plants in Japan suspended until 20 March 2011 to help prioritize recovery.
* Honda Motor will make decisions based on status of recovery.
* 300 million yen and 1,000 generators along with 5,000 gas canister to aid relief and recovery efforts.

Read the whole statement by clicking below:



Kuala Lumpur, 15 March 2011 - Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. today announced that it expects no immediate interruption from the 9.0 Richter-scale earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on the supply of Honda models in Malaysia.

Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Yoichiro Ueno said, "Our inventory for the 4 CKD models of Accord, CR-V, Civic, City, and the other 4 CBU models in Malaysia is sufficient for the next one to two months. We are monitoring the situation closely and will make the relevant announcement when we have more information."

"We would like to express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims of 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake in northeastern Japan. We sincerely hope for the earliest possible relief and recovery of the affected areas," said Mr Ueno.

In Japan, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. has suspended production at all its major plants for one week from 14 to 20 March 2011 in support of the nationwide recovery efforts. Following that, Honda Motor said that it will make decisions based on the status of the recovery of their parts suppliers as well as the Japanese society as a whole.

Honda Motor is contributing 300 million yen and 1,000 generators along with 5,000 gas canisters to support relief and recovery efforts. Its associates have also been despatched to explain how to use the donated gasoline-powered and home-use gas canister-powered generators.

Understanding the Japan Nuclear Situation

Someone in the TOV forum posted the following link. It is one of a growing group of sites which are concerned about the widespread of misinformation and sensationalism in the internet targetted at the nuclear situation in Japan and directly making the poor people of Japan suffer even more. If you are interested to know more about the nuclear situation, and to know the truth and nothing else BUT the TRUTH, please make an effort to read the article posted in the blog below.

http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/

Official Honda Press Release regarding the Japan Earthquake

This is the official press release from Honda and explain important questions like how Honda has been affected and how Honda is contributing to efforts for recovery. Read the full press release after the jump. Note that I received this press release from the Honda media center. I also expect this to be posted to the Honda worldwide site soon as well.

TOKYO, Japan, March 14, 2011 - Honda would like to express its deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims of The 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake in northeastern Japan and our sincere hopes for the earliest possible relief and recovery of the affected areas.

<About Honda operations>
Considering the current situation of the nationwide recovery efforts in Japan, Honda has decided the following:
・	As of March 14, all production activities are suspended at the following Honda plants: Sayama Plant at Saitama Factory (Sayama, Saitama), Ogawa Plant (Ogawa-machi, Hiki-gun Saitama), Tochigi Factory (Moka, Tochigi), Hamamatsu Factory (Hamamatsu, Shizuoka) and Suzuka Factory (Suzuka, Mie).
・	From March 15 through 20, Honda will suspend all production activities at its plants listed above as well as at Kumamoto Factory (Ozu-machi, Kikuchi-gun, Kumamoto).
・	From March 14 through 20, Honda will suspend regular operations at all Honda facilities in the Tochigi area, where damage was more serious, (including Tochigi Factory, Honda R&D Co., Ltd. Automobile R&D Center (Tochigi) , Honda Engineering Co., Ltd., etc.), and focus on the recovery of each operation. Honda associates will not come to work during this time.
<About aid for the victims of the earthquake>
With the hope to contribute to the earliest possible relief and recovery of affected areas, Honda will provide the following aid:
・	300 million yen toward the relief and recovery effort.
・	A total of 1,000 generators (gasoline-powered and home-use gas canister-powered), along with 5,000 gas canisters. Honda also will dispatch its staff to explain how to use the donated generators.
<About the electricity conservation and cooperation for the rolling blackout requested by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry>
Honda will cooperate to the electricity conservation efforts and the rolling blackout, prioritizing the relief and recovery of affected areas.
<About recruiting activities>
Honda decided the following regarding its recruiting activities so that victims of the earthquake can focus on recovery.
・	Prospective associates, who are scheduled to join the company in April, can choose to delay their first day of work by up to two months if they or their families are affected by the earthquake.
・	For those who have applied for next year's recruiting process starting in April of this year (associates who would join the company in April 2012) from the affected areas (six prefectures in Tohoku areas and Ibaraki prefecture), Honda will ensure that the testing/interviewing of those applicants will be conducted in June or later. More details will be posted on the recruiting section of the Honda website in April.

Minor update on the Japan Quake

ALL of my friends have responded and ALL of them are safe and healthy. In fact from what I can see, most of central Tokyo has not even been affected by the much circulated and overhyped power and water cut. My friend for e.g. reported no disruption to the electric or water supply to his house which is in central Tokyo.

In the meantime, my friend at Honda HQ has also responded and he too is safe and healthy.

It is true that Honda had suffered a bit from the quake. According to official sources, including what was told to me directly, one or two casualties (depending on who is the source) has been experienced in the Honda R&D center in Tochigi when a wall collapsed on the employees. Others have been injured as well. No serious harm has been done other than the two unfortunate casualties. But it is true that some Honda plants have to be temporarily closed. The closure is due to parts supplies - some of Honda's part suppliers have been affected by the quake.

For people concerned about the impact to the availability and delivery of cars imported from Japan, e.g. the Honda Insight in Malaysia, Honda Malaysia has built up a large amount of stock for the Insight before delivery started last month. This was the reason for the delay between the launching in December last year and the first deliveries last month. So, whatever rumours or stories you heard people with 'connections' tell you, TRUST ONLY what your DEALER tells you. They have access to a centralized order management system run by Honda Malaysia and they know all details about stock availability and delivery times. For other countries in Asia, I strongly advice you to do the same and simply IGNORE ANY RUMOURS OR STORIES especially those spreading gloom and doom, on the internet, forums, phone SMS, or even by word of mouth. Conspiracy theories are not always right. Meanwhile I will try and see if I can get some sort of official response on this matter from Honda Malaysia.

For TOV/TOVA supporters who wants to know more about the nuclear situation that is developing in Japan -BUT- wants to separate the HYPE and OVER-DRAMATIZATION from the TRUE FACTS, do be informed that TOV contributor Daniel Garcia is living in Nagoya Japan and is working for the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. He has been keen, like me, that people around the world know the REAL NEWS, rather than some of the over-dramatized ones floating around. Also, being a researcher in atomic power, he is also able to separate the facts from the bullshit and is able to explain the REAL situation in an accurate and level-headed way. He has absolutely NO dealings with the power companies that runs the nuclear power plant and so he has EVERY intention to report accurately. You can follow his tweets at http://twitter.com/#!/daniel_garcia_r . Daniel also says that of all the news portals, the Japan Times is the most responsible. Also if you want news from some NGO who is savvy with atomic energy but also responsible and free from hype, ANS at http://ansnuclearcafe.org/ is considered accurate too.

Some news of the Japan Earthquake

All of the world's news sites are now providing real time reports on the massive and tragic magnitude 8.9 earthquake that rocked Japan yesterday. TOVA sends out our condolences to the people of Japan and our well wishes that they will recover safely and quickly.

The moment I learned about the earthquake in Japan, I quickly sent emails to three of my friends living there. Two of them are native japanese and lives in Tokyo itself, one of them an employee of Honda who has been posted back to HQ. The third is fellow TOV'er Daniel Garcia who is working in Nagoya.

Daniel reported back saying Nagoya itself was not affected at all. It was great news.

My friend responded very quickly too. He works and lives within central Tokyo, very near the business district. He too reported that he and his family are all safe and sound. From his email response, it would seem that central Tokyo itself managed to escape relatively unscathed which is fantastic news. However, he said that he was unprepared for the intensity of the earthquake. It was surprising and alarming because all japanese, since young are regularly prepared for the event of an earthquake. As Daniel so eloquently described, the japanese are obssessed with natural calamity management. So they are fully prepared for an earthquake. Unfortunately it seems that the sheer POWER of this magnitude 8.9 earthquake caught them totally unprepared.

Still, with practically all buildings properly prepared against natural calamities, it seems that other than that widely circulated photo of a building in Odaiba on fire, damage to central Tokyo itself is relatively minor. The biggest impact however is the apparent breakdown of the infrastructure, especially the transport system. The extremely complicated Tokyo subway is driven by electricity by and large and due to power cut, many people are strandled. My friend himself managed to walk back home but it seems many were not so lucky.

My friend from Honda have not yet responded so far. A search in Google's 'People Finder' did not come up with anything. I am sure he is OK but I will probably contact Honda Malaysia to check up on his safety very soon.

It would seem that the outlying cities and towns around Tokyo and the more northernly areas are the most impacted, especially those located near the coast. The much reported 10metre high tsunami is already known by people all over the world, as is the terrifying damage to towns like Sendai.

In the TOV forums, it was also reported that there have been a few casualties in the automobile assembly plants of both Honda as well as rival Toyota.

Other than the fearsome damage done by the tsunami, at the moment the most terrifying fears on most people's mind is the problems at the nuclear power plants. There have been many reports and it is difficult to know exactly what is happening. It doesn't help at all that various news agencies are starting to bring in or quote various, previously unheard of, experts generously brandishing 'opinions' on the situation. It is especially alarming when 'experts' from 'renown universities' start to pronounce 'dire concern about nuclear meltdown of the core' and such things. My personal advice is to just stick to official news released by agencies such as NHK.

Another alarming trend is the growing popularity of the 'cover-up' scenario. So, many people have started to openly say that any news coming out from Japan must have been sugar-coated so as not to spread wide panic and that the actual situation is much worse, and that a nuclear disaster will happen soon. I feel such statements do not help at all.

At the moment, the only thing everyone here can do is to monitor closely and pray, in your own way, for the safety and well being of your friends and in general the people of Japan.

Video of new 9G Civic !! (USDM model)

For fans of the Honda Civic, the latest excitement is the video someone took of AHM (American Honda Motors) doing a video shoot for advertisement of the new 9th generation Honda Civic. This video shows us exactly what the new Civic looks like. Bear in mind this is the U.S. model. However the Asian model will be very similar. There is in fact, already an article on the 9th gen Civic for China and that will be covered in our next post. The link below is to our TOV's news and rumours article for the video.

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=965440