Duck and Cover! Korean Crisis Causes Japanese to Seek Private Fallout Shelters

© REUTERS / Kim Kyung-HoonSeiichiro Nishimoto, CEO of Shelter Co., poses wearing a gas mask at a model room for the company's nuclear shelters in the basement of his house in Osaka, Japan April 26, 2017
Seiichiro Nishimoto, CEO of Shelter Co., poses wearing a gas mask at a model room for the company's nuclear shelters in the basement of his house in Osaka, Japan April 26, 2017 - Sputnik International
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Escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and the constant ballistic missile tests conducted by Pyongyang have led a steadily growing number of Japanese to seek personal protection for themselves and their families by purchasing private fallout shelters.

Considering the fact that in 2017 alone about a dozen North Korean ballistic missiles landed in the Sea of Japan, it is not that difficult to understand why fallout shelters are being seen as an increasingly desirable solution to the unstable political situation.

The scene of the intermediate-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2's launch test in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) May 22, 2017 - Sputnik International
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Needless to say, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s warning about North Korea’s capability of loading their missiles with sarin gas, or the latest bellicose exchanges between Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump, did little to alleviate the people’s fears.

Oribe Nobuko, CEO of the Oribe Seiki Seisakusho fallout shelter construction company, told Sputnik in an exclusive interview that the growing demand for his product is the result of fears over a possible North Korean attack.

© Photo : oribe-seiki.co.jpFallout shelter being constructed by Oribe Seiki Seisakusho
Fallout shelter being constructed by Oribe Seiki Seisakusho - Sputnik International
Fallout shelter being constructed by Oribe Seiki Seisakusho

Oribe Seiki Seisakusho has been building fallout shelters since 1962 when the Cold War fanned fears of a possible nuclear exchange between the US and USSR, and its sales have been steadily growing during the past few years, increasing 26 times as compared to 2016.

Each fallout shelter made by the company is a comfortable and airtight compartment which allows its occupants to remain inside for up to 2 weeks, provided that they have an adequate stockpile of food and water. The shelters are equipped with Swiss-made air conditioning and purification system that filters both radiation particles and toxic gases like sarin. The price of the shelters range from 18 to 25 million yen (approximately $164,000 to $227,000).

© Photo : oribe-seiki.co.jpFallout shelter being constructed by Oribe Seiki Seisakusho
Fallout shelter being constructed by Oribe Seiki Seisakusho - Sputnik International
Fallout shelter being constructed by Oribe Seiki Seisakusho

According to Oribe-san, his company is usually contracted to build shelters for families of 3 to 5 people, as Japanese families nowadays are less numerous that before.

© Photo : oribe-seiki.co.jpFallout shelter being constructed by Oribe Seiki Seisakusho
Fallout shelter being constructed by Oribe Seiki Seisakusho - Sputnik International
Fallout shelter being constructed by Oribe Seiki Seisakusho

The entrepreneur also pointed out that while his company is far from the only fallout shelter construction firm in Japan, only Oribe Seiki Seisakusho has the necessary experience and access to Swiss-manufactured air purification system needed to build a completely safe nuclear sanctuary. He added that an entrance door to a fallout shelter made by Oribe Seiki Seisakusho could withstand an explosion and does not melt even when heated up to 1,200 degrees Celsius.

Oribe’s company also seeks to raise awareness about how to protect oneself in case of a nuclear catastrophe and radiation hazard, disseminating relevant information via the Japan Nuclear Shelter Association.

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