I felt a sudden, squeezing pain in the center of my chest. It went away quickly, so it was probably nothing serious, but I am a little worried given that I am leaving for a business trip to the United States today—and have not even decided on a hotel yet! It is probably overwork. I have had no weekends for about 2 weeks. As my brother-in-law, a cardiologist, says, I should have nitroglycerin properly prepared. 😕

But the earthquake damage in Niigata is terrible. It is frightening to think what would happen if this occurred in Tokyo. Fortunately, Typhoon 24 appears to have veered away, but if it had made a direct hit, it would have been unthinkable. This really has been an unlucky year.