Driving North
We are still driving north. Soon, we will reach our most northern destination Sendai.
On our way we passed Fukushima, where the Tsunami of 2011 hit a nuclear plant. It is well known that this resulted in the meltdown of three of the plant’s six nuclear reactors. The clean up is still in motion and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. As the radiation is very high in the proximity of the reactor, robots are replacing humans wherever possible. One model of a robot, that is in use to remove rubble, uses our triflex® R chain. triflex® R ensures the energy supply by guiding and protecting the cables. triflex® R are three-dimensional cable carriers for robots of which not only offer multi-dimensional movements but are also very easy to assemble, in particular in combination with the tensioning device (triflex® RS).
triflex® RS is a very compact universal module that is mounted on fastening points available on the robot. Thanks to the low installation height and the triflex® R chain guide parallel to the robotic arm, applications with extremely low installation space can also be realized.
Heading north led us mainly along the coast.
At one point we reached the grave of the first Shogun of the Edo period (Kunozan Toshogu).
He established the Tokugawa clan that had been ruling Japan from 1600-1868. The Shogun (literally “military commander”) was the leader of the Samurai and technically appointed by the emperor. Although the emperor in Kyoto was still the legitimate ruler of Japan, the Shogun controlled Japan. Thus, de facto, they ruled the country. People who worship the shogun sometimes donate something to the grave or shrine respectively. For instance, one company donated these barrels full of Sake (famous Japanese rice wine).
Another one donated plastic figures that are manufactured in the region.
Further north, we visited the national symbol of Japan, the famous Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji is with 3776 meters the highest mountain in Japan.
The altitude is not so special, but rather that the volcano (last eruption 1707) is standing completely alone making the mounting look huge.
The mountain has been added to the world heritage list in 2013 and has also been selected as a “cultural” heritage site rather than a “natural” heritage site. As per UNESCO, Mount Fuji has not only inspired artists and poets but also been an object of pilgrimage for centuries. Unfortunately, we could not spare time to take the car up the mountain although our bearings would not have been fazed having to face snow and cold. They are used to harsher environments.
One of our customers with the iglidur® on tour flag
Alternatively, we visited the nearby lake Kawaguchi.
The tour in Japan is already coming to an end. In the course of the week the car will leave the land of the rising sun to take the long way to Brazil.
I keep you up to date,
Yours Sascha.
