Are You Ready for Japan’s Tsunami-Fighting Mini-Noah’s Arks?
- Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:02pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Cosmo Power President Shoji Tanaka coming out of the "Noah" shelter at the company's factory in Hiratsuka, west of Tokyo, on Friday, Sept. 30, 2011
The Japanese have tragically learned the power and fury of natural disasters. In 2011, an infamous tsunami killed thousands (20,000 died or went missing) and left the nation struggling to recover. Now, a small Japanese company is more than prepared for the next tsunami, as it has developed a miniature version of Noah’s Ark.
As you’ll likely recall, the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark is one that inspires fear, while reinforcing the consequences for our human actions. While the God of the Bible pledges never to destroy the earth through water again, tsunamis and horrific storms still happen with frequency.
These incidents can lead to serious flooding and the like. So, Cosmo Powers, the company behind the tennis ball-like, floating capsule, is helping people to prepare for the worst.
The company’s “Noah” shelter is made out of fiberglass and can hold up to four adults. Shoji Tanaka, the president of Cosmo Powers, claims that the mini-Ark has survived crash tests and that it even has a small looking window as well as breathing holes at its top. You can see more here (the video is in Japanese, so it’s mostly good for its imagery — unless you can speak the language, of course):
And here’s the best part — even if there’s no tsunami coming in the near future, the capsule can be used as a children’s playhouse.
While some may find this absurd, others will likely buy into it. After all, the fear and devastation that resulted from the tsunami earlier this year has left many emotionally, physically and economically depleted. The Noah shelter may offer people a peace of mind that can, at the least, allow them to feel more prepared in the case of another earthquake and tsunami.
Already, the company reports that 600 units have been ordered.
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Comments (111)
ROMANS 10-9
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:40pmIf there is a number on the underside
when you pull it out of the water…
You win a prize!
Small dog!
Report Post »ROMANS 10-9
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:38pmRubber Duckies!
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 3:05pmwhat they don’t tell you is that they sink.
Report Post »BenInNY
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 3:19pmWe have those up here, heh, but I don‘t think they’d survive a tsunami: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3hupDv1tbY&feature=player_embedded
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 3:28pm“Bond, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Keeping the British end up, sir.”
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 3:43pmStick some pillows in there and take it over Niagara Falls!
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:32pmAnybody done a ballistics evaluation of one of those ping pong balls bouncing along the surfing edge of a tidal wave, hitting everything in sight! Maybe, the high-end version includes air-bags?
Report Post »liberalescheisskopf
Posted on October 1, 2011 at 2:57pmI saw these at Walmart, only they had a smiley-face on them……
Report Post »cyclops
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 1:16amLMAO…………..Good one…..
Report Post »ROMANS 10-9
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:37pmIsn’t that what Lady GaGa lives in?
or what the president landed in in the movie
Escape from New York?
Report Post »Eyeball
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:33pmIf me and my family lived along a coast line and fault line, then I would probably by one just to give us some peace and mind.
Report Post »Kaoscontrol
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:22pmOpen the pod bay doors HAL.
–2001 A Space Odyssey
Report Post »a_lady_patriot
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:56pmI can’t do that, Dave.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:17pmI have spent time actually studying this concept for other uses and this guy is only in the infant stage but he’s heading in the right direction. The optimum use for this type of evac vehicle is one person short term with an ELT type system, and compressed air tanks..water optional. The real problem is how not to get the crap knocked out of you as you are being thrown about. Fiberglas is not the only possibility, just the cheapest and lightest.
NoBama 2012
Report Post »dnewton
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 7:32pmI don’t see why these things could not be made of concrete. They would have to be at least six feet in diameter and have a six inch wall. I don’t like the spherical shape. What would happen if you washed into an open building or warehouse and the building submerged with the capsule inside? I read many stories of tsunami deaths and the biggest threat, even if you can swim, is being beaten to death by the debris. I can see an advantage to just surviving a hurricane in one of these.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:39pmNeeds a catchy marketing pitch: Tsunami Eggs, anyone?
Report Post »Cat
Posted on October 2, 2011 at 6:01pmEver been inside an old tire and rolled, by your ‘buddies’?
Report Post »Talk about vertigo!
Up chucking on yourself for an hour or so doesn’t appeal either.
Yikes …
BurntHills
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:12pmwe are SO fricken sick of TRYING to watch the article vids and having those STUPID ADS on the right sidebar suddenly turning its audio on automatically TOO.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:18pmIsn’t that the truth!
NoBama 2012
Report Post »atechgeek
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:21pmI agree .. the ads S U C K !
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:31pmI’m not a happy camper with the ads either
Report Post »4everfree2b
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:57pmAds suck!!!!!!
Report Post »TexasHunter
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 4:24pmYes at first I thought they were translating, then I was like this has nothing to do with the video! Why the hell are they talking about financial funds as he beats on the bubble with a hammer. Then it hit me.. O yeah those annoying videos again..
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 5:25pmditto
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 5:29pmAgree
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 6:09pmWhat do you expect, after all, the Blaze is now being managed by a Huffpo alumni. What drives me crazy is the pop=up to the ‘Next Story”. Pleeze, I can pick which story I wast to read next, thank you.
Report Post »UrbanCombatSurvivor
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 6:49pmFirefox + AdBlock Plus = I have not idea what you’re talking about :)
Report Post »PatrioticTechnogeek
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 7:23pmI use either Firefox with AdBlock on Linux or the iPad I am currently holding as I type this (which doesn‘t support Flash and thus doesn’t support those videos).
Report Post »Vapor Trail
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 8:19pmYup firefox and noscript is how I roll.
Report Post »On that note the Blaze has more scripts that I block than 95% of any other website I have ever been on…..what up with that Blaze?
The-Monk
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 8:24pmThe ads aren’t from The Blaze. They’re embeded in the link to wherever the video is coming from. Only The Blaze/Glenn Beck direct video links are under they‘re control and I’ve noticed that there are no ads on those videos.
Report Post »Champ
Posted on October 1, 2011 at 9:09amGo get Firefox (browser) & AdBlock plus extension. I couldn’t figure out what you were talking about, then I remembered that most people use Internet Exploder (misspelling intentional). the extension is available for Google Chrome as well.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on October 1, 2011 at 9:27amTHE-MONK is correct – the ads are not from TheBlaze. (the video ads)
As for the sidebar ads – I too use Firefox and adblock plus.
Report Post »TTBOMK, ads are still downloaded, just not displayed, so they still count as “impressions” for paying theblaze.com/GB.
Bodine
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:07pmNo Different than having a storm cellar at the ready, if living in Oklahoma. Gotta do what ya gotta do.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 3:37pm… I contacted Attack Watch.com about those damn ads … turns out they’re the ones doing it!
Report Post »ROMANS 10-9
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:06pmWe learn from Noah
that it is possible to remain faithful and pleasing to God
even in the midst of a corrupt and sinful generation.
Surely it wasn’t easy for Noah,
but he found favor in God’s eyes
because of his remarkable obedience.
God blessed and saved Noah,
just as he will faithfully bless and protect those of us who follow and obey him today.
Our call to obedience is not a short-term, one-time call.
Like Noah, our obedience must be lived out over a lifetime of faithful commitment.
Those who persevere will finish the race.
Don’t allow a liberal writer to plant seeds of doubt in you through their writings.
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:10pmI’d have to hook two four person capsules together. Other wise my fat ass is drowning.
Report Post »atechgeek
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:44pmFiberglass is strong … but this would not last in a Tsunami with all the other debris pounding it. Let alone how shaken the occupants will be when the thing comes to rest. Your best bet would be to bury an airtight concrete room six feet under ground. Interesting and fun looking idea though. Also … I don’t think most people are going to be carrying these things around to their businesses.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:11pmYou got it. Also, such a shelter would nicely double as a blast shelter.
Report Post »DADA
Posted on October 1, 2011 at 9:40amWhat if your concrete bunker were in the area of an earthquake? It would crack and you would drown.
Report Post »nick e l
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:41pmOk. Playing devils advocate… 1. Will it make people complacent and not evacuate to higher ground? I would think this would be used as last resort. 2. Once in and swept away.. all that water goes back out to sea. I believe they found people on trash way out to sea before. What do you do to get back.. is there going to be a concerted effort to round up the yellow duckies? I would think a good addition if having and anticipating use would be survival food and water and above all an EPRIB system.. In aircraft they are called ELT. Electronic Locating Transmitter.
Report Post »Otherwise, hey they are making money and being proactive.. good for them.
nontaceo
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 7:51pmAccording to the explanation given in the video, the device is primarily designed for earthquakes, although it is also adapted to to a tsunami, should that happen. Tsunamis like they had this year are very rare and in most cases people do find shelter in higher grounds, and they are well prepared to “normal” tsunamis.
However, when you have an earthquake, you just can’t run while it is shaking. Depending on the magnitude, you won’t even be able to stand, and it is dangerous to walk outside during the earthquake, as debris may fall on you and even kill you. It’s generally safer to stay where you are and look for shelter inside, under a table, for example, until it ends. For this particular situation, I believe that the device might prove effective. The guy in the video claims that you would be safe in the sphere even if the second story of the house collapse on it.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:40pmNever let a good crisis go to waste.
Report Post »TexasHunter
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:39pmHope no one passes gas with all the sushi they eat.
Report Post »nick e l
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:42pmNow that is funny, just imagine that for a moment
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:36pmOr, maybe worse, gets motion sick! Ewwww, sushi chum all over your rescue capsule!
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:38pmSeems a little small for four adults. No thanks, I will take higher ground or take my chances. Even if California breaks off and water suddenly rushes in, I think I am fairly safe in Colorado at 6,000 feet and I can move up to 14,000 feet if necessary.
Report Post »thegodfather
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:36pmThat’s what inventors do. Invent. If people need them. They will buy them. An entire new market is born. Free enterprise… nothing like it.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:35pmThe only downside is, you can never be more than 25 yards away from your Noah‘s shelter or it’s a waste of money.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:47pmThat’s what I was thinking (is it on wheels with a leash?)
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:48pmDang Anon. We just cost that little guy a fortune!
Report Post »TelepromoterNChief
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:31pmMichelle picked up a couple of those at Target the other day.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:40pmWow! I didn’t know they made them that big!
Report Post »GENEPAGLIARI
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:06pmLOL Thought you meant inventors.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 4:24pmlol
Report Post »ConservDadASD
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:31pmI wonder if one of these chambers would survive a trip over Niagara’s Horseshoe Falls
Report Post »GENEPAGLIARI
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:07pmLet’s put owebummer in one and seel
Report Post »GENEPAGLIARI
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:11pmLet’s let owe bummer give it a try.
Report Post »Desert Dog
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:11pmMight be a good test….
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:13pmHaving worked there and helped on successful stunts that needed recovery to shore and suicides that also were successful and needed help to shore. I can tell you…NO THEY WON’T. Great tombs though.
Report Post »ConservDadASD
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:29pmAnyone up for a human pool table game? Yellow ball in the right corner pocket.
Report Post »ConservDadASD
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:27pmAnyone up for a human pool table game? Yellow one in the far corner pocket.
Report Post »Joisey
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:16pmShhhhhh. Obama will try to put 4 tires on them and sell them as cars if he sees them.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:23pmAnd 2 holes in the bottom for your feet to touch the ground a la Fred Flintstone.
NoBama 2012
Report Post »I_Hate_Libs
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:13pmLooks like a good idea to me.
The horror of the Democrat mind.
Report Post »NewLife56
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:10pmDomo mi getta
Awesome idea
Report Post »Locked
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:31pm… were you trying to say “Domo arigato” (どうもありがとう)? A quick google search returned no responses for domo mi getta, and I’m a bit curious now!
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:06pm.
Report Post »Don‘t see my fat ass neighbor’s fitting in one of those things. So I guess i‘ll tell’em to cancel their Japan trip…..
h158x
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:05pmNext, they’ll be marketing them as apartments
Report Post »GENEPAGLIARI
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:16pmYeah, stack ‘em in egg crates.
Report Post »Akira Gomi
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:19pmNot yet, wait til the Islam run UN comes into you neighborhood looking for your guns and wanting to put you in a camp because you are a Christain. Where will be your ark?
Report Post »Aviyah
Posted on September 30, 2011 at 6:45pm“wait til Islam comes looking for your guns”
An almost comical thought Akira. And they would surely find them…behind every blade of grass.
Report Post »LastAmerican
Posted on October 1, 2011 at 8:52amMy ark is 5.56 & 12 gauge mossberg
Report Post »