As reported in media reports, Tohoku, or north-eastern part of Honshu, the main island of Japan, was struck with a devastating earthquake and tsunami on 11 March, 2011.

Thank you to those of you who made warm inquiries asking for news of our safety.

In the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, in Abiko, Chiba Prefecture in central Japan, no one was injured. Many files and documents dropped down to the floor and some shelves tilted. However direct damage to the specimen, literature, and other research resources was minimal.